After becoming a household name thanks to the Harry Potter films, Emma Watson became one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood — until all of a sudden, she stopped appearing in movies.
What has Emma Watson been up to these past few years, and why did she take a Hollywood hiatus? Read on to find out.
Emma Watson – career
Emma Watson was only 10 years old when she was cast in the role of a lifetime as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Based on a phenomenally successful book series, it became one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.
Watson spent a decade working on the eight Harry Potter films, literally growing up on screen: she was 20 when the last film completed shooting.
But after that hugely popular franchise, Watson was one of the rare child stars to transition into becoming a true A-list movie star.
Her post-Potter films include critically-acclaimed independent films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower as well as huge blockbusters like Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast.
Break from Hollywood
Things seemed to be taking off for Watson, but she abruptly disappeared from Hollywood: Her last film was 2019’s Little Women, and she doesn’t have any upcoming projects scheduled.
Over the past five years rumors have swirled that Watson was retired from acting — but in a recent interview, she revealed why she needed to take a years-long break from Hollywood.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Watson says she was just unhappy with show business and needed a break.
“I wasn’t very happy, if I’m being honest,” she says, over lunch. “I think I felt a bit caged.
She expressed frustration that she was working on projects that she had no creative control over, but was still asked by journalist how the film “aligned with her viewpoint.”
“It was very difficult to have to be the face and the spokesperson for things where I didn’t get to be involved in the process,” Watson said. “I was held accountable in a way that I began to find really frustrating, because I didn’t have a voice, I didn’t have a say.”
While she has been taking a much-needed five-year break from Hollywood, she says she will “absolutely” return to acting… when she finds the right project.
“I’m happy to sit and wait for the next right thing,” she told the Financial Times. “I love what I do. It’s finding a way to do it where I don’t have to fracture myself into different faces and people. And I just don’t want to switch into robot mode any more.”
Other work
While she hasn’t been working, Watson has still been busy with her advocacy and activism work. An outspoken feminist, she has worked as a UN Women Goodwill ambassador and helped launch a campaign advocating for gender equality.
She has also been involved in the fashion industry, and has been a proponent of eco-friendly fashion. In 2020, she was named chair of the board’s sustainability committee at luxury goods corporation Kering.
“I have had time to reflect on the work I want to be involved with and what is meaningful to me moving forward,” Watson told Vogue in 2020.
“Having been so public in making films and being so active on social platforms in my activism, I am curious to embrace a role where I work to amplify more voices… and to ensure a broader range of perspectives are considered. Behind the scenes now, I hope I can be helpful in making a difference.”
We love Emma Watson and miss seeing her in movies, but it’s clear she needed a break from showbiz and will come back for the right project!
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READ MORE:
- Rachel McAdams reveals why she left Hollywood at the height of her fame — and why she has no regrets
- Cameron Diaz reveals how she found ‘peace’ after ditching Hollywood for good
- Mark Wahlberg left Hollywood for Nevada so he could give his kids a better life
- Bridget Fonda, 59, reveals the real reason she’ll never return to acting in rare outing
