Portrait · David Shankbone / CC BY 2.0

Emma Watson

Actor and director

Born 1990

Emma Watson is a British actor and director whose early fame as Hermione Granger grew into a career across literary drama, animation, comedy and musical film. She was born in Paris to lawyer parents and moved to England after their separation. Her childhood combined ordinary school life with a public identity that developed exceptionally early. In Oxford she attended the Dragon School and took Stagecoach performing classes. Casting for Harry Potter began when she was nine. In later interviews she described the unusual pressure of growing up under public observation, alongside a continuing interest in education and storytelling. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduced her Hermione in 2001, beginning the screen collaboration with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. The series continued through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. Alongside Potter, she portrayed Pauline Fossil in the television adaptation Ballet Shoes. Animation brought the voice of Princess Pea in The Tale of Despereaux. My Week with Marilyn cast her as Lucy. Sam in The Perks of Being a Wallflower gave her a contemporary coming-of-age role. Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring cast her as Nicki. This Is the End used her own name for a comic screen persona. Darren Aronofsky’s Noah introduced her Ila. Regression cast her as Angela Gray. Colonia placed her in the role of Lena. Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast cast her as Belle in 2017. The Circle provided the contrasting role of Mae. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women followed with Meg March in 2019. She pursued university education alongside professional acting and graduated from Brown with an English literature degree in May 2014. UN Women appointed her a Goodwill Ambassador that July, linking her public work to young women’s empowerment and HeForShe. Her appointment followed involvement in girls’ education, including visits to Bangladesh and Zambia. She later moved behind the camera for Prada Paradoxe, directing and starring in its 2022 campaign short. This was commercial brand work, distinct from a verified personal fragrance recommendation. Renais is another commercial undertaking: she and her brother Alex co-founded the gin business, which connects their family’s Burgundy winemaking with production in England. In December 2023 she described creative writing study at Oxford. In September 2025 she discussed a new, unnamed pursuit and her wish to stay connected with the filmmaking community. She missed aspects of acting while finding promotional obligations difficult. Pickleball and Brandi Carlile’s music appear in that same personal account. Vogue’s September 2026 report documents her Lucas Museum appearance, where she collaborated on a handmade floral dress. The checked current coverage establishes this public activity without supplying a new acting credit.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

Keep exploring

Connected people

ConnectionDaniel RadcliffePotter screen collaborator.

ConnectionRupert GrintPotter screen collaborator.

ConnectionSofia CoppolaDirected The Bling Ring.

Deduplicated reporting · visible evidence

Latest Clippings

Current work, broadcasts and public milestones, each linked to the primary record used for publication.

Verified news · projects · public record

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Emma Watson's work and public record.

News
A floral dress at the Lucas Museum
Vogue reports Watson’s attendance and collaboration on a handmade dress using live flowers.
21 Sept 2026Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Broadcast
Making space for a different creative life
Watson discusses an unnamed pursuit, acting’s appeal and the pressures of promotion in a direct conversation.
21 Sept 2025Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Broadcast
Study and a creative voice
A direct interview describes Oxford creative writing study and greater creative autonomy.
14 Dec 2023Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Project
Directing Prada Paradoxe
Prada identifies Watson as director and star of its campaign short.
1 Sept 2022Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Award
MTV’s acting honour for Belle
TIME reports her win in the gender-neutral Best Actor category for Beauty and the Beast.
8 May 2017Source checked
VerifiedRead more
News
An appointment at UN Women
The institution appoints Watson to support young women and HeForShe.
8 Jul 2014Source checked
VerifiedRead more

Latest Index

A floral dress at the Lucas Museum

Making space for a different creative life

Study and a creative voice

Directing Prada Paradoxe

MTV’s acting honour for Belle

An appointment at UN Women