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This article is about the Harry Potter actress. For other people named Emma Watson, see Emma Watson (disambiguation).

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born April 15 1990) is a British actress who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series.

Biography

Early life

Watson is the elder of two children born to Chris and Jacqueline Watson, lawyers who are now divorced. She has one brother, Alex, who is three years younger than her. She was born in Paris, France and lived in the French capital till the age of five. That year (1995) her parents divorced and she moved to Oxford with her mother, brother and mother's partner, as she reported in the Evening Standard Magazine. She attended The Dragon School, a renowned preparatory school in Oxford till June 2003; she then enrolled in Headington school in September of the same year.

Before being cast in the Harry Potter films, Watson's acting experience was limited, consisting only of minor roles in school plays, including Arthur: The Young Years and The Happy Prince. Other school activities included the Daisy Pratt Poetry Competition, in which, at age seven, she won first place for her year.

Career

Watson was cast to play Hermione Granger at age 10, and was 11 years old in 2001 when Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States, was released. She has since appeared in all subsequent Potter films: Chamber of Secrets (2002), Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and Goblet of Fire (2005), and is currently filming Order of the Phoenix It is unknown whether Watson will again reprise her role as Hermione in the sixth Potter film, the Half Blood Prince, due to begin filming next year.

Potter fans have expressed mixed opinions about Watson's portrayal of Granger: Some feel she is perfect for the role; others believe Watson fails to capture Hermione's insecurities and flaws, and complain that she is too glamorous for the role—one prominent film critic, Roger Ebert, said Watson was "in the early stages of babehood"—since, according to these critics, Granger was considered "plain" (neither "pretty" nor "ugly"). The films, however—with Rowling's approval—establish Hermione as a pretty girl past her bushy hair and bookish demeanor, as Harry and Ron discover at the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire. (Still, a Daily Prophet article by Rita Skeeter called Granger "a plain but ambitious girl".) The screenplays also present a somewhat different chemistry between the three central characters than do the books.

At age fifteen, Watson became the youngest person to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine. She also served on a jury, along with Pierce Brosnan, Kenneth Branagh, and Samantha Morton, to select the 2004 teenaged filmmakers' "First Light Film Award" ceremony in Leicester Square in London. She also played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag, a special mini-episode of Harry Potter in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.

Although the Harry Potter film series comprises her only professional acting experience, she has expressed interest in expanding her film career into other works. She has said this is unlikely to happen before the Harry Potter films are complete, though is also reportedly in talks to play shark-attack survivor Bethany Hamilton in a film-version of Hamilton's life story.

Personal life

An avid sports player, Watson enjoys field hockey, tennis, rounders and netball. While on set, Emma passes the time by playing video games and table tennis. Her family owns two cats, named Bubbles and Domino, which belong to her and her brother, respectively. Her musical interests (as of Spring 2005) include singing, hip hop, blues and classic rock, ranging from Eminem to Eric Clapton to Nelly Furtado.

In August of 2006, it was announced that Watson had earned eight A* and two A grades in her GCSEs.

Awards

Nominated:

• Saturn Award: for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• Empire Award: for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: American Moviegoer Awards, 2002
• Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress: Young Artists Awards, 2002
• Best Ensemble in Feature Film: Young Artist Awards, for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• Best Young Actress: Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, 2004
• Best Young Actress: Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, 2005

Won:

• Best Female Film Star (Silver): Otto Awards, 2003
• Best Female Child Artist: Phoenix Film Critics Society, for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Total Film Magazine "Child Performance of the Year", 2004
• CBC'c Favourite Celebrity Poll (numerous weeks)
• Best Female Film Star (Gold): Otto Awards, 2006

Filmography

See also

• Daniel Radcliffe
• Rupert Grint
• Harry Potter cast
• J. K. Rowling

References

• Guides: Harry Potter Actors

Footnotes

1. "harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk". Warner Bros. (Flash: click appropriate actor's image, click "Actor Bio") (Official site). Retrieved 28 March. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
2. "Guardian Unlimited Film". Is Hermione Too Pretty?. Retrieved March 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
3. "RogerEbert.SunTimes.com". Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Retrieved March 13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
4. "Buzzle.com". Emma Watson – New Teenage Sensation!!. Retrieved March 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
5. "SciFi.com". Watson Purrs for Potter. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
6. "EWOnline.net". Fan letters from Emma Watson (Spring 2005). Retrieved August 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
7. "MSN - Entertainment News". Potter star Emma has wizard grades. Retrieved August 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

External links

• List of Fan Sites at Yahoo! Directory
• Emma Watson at IMDb

• 1990 births
• English child actors
• English film actors
• Harry Potter actors
• Living people
• Living teenage actors
• Old Dragons