I was 10 and reading about a smart, young, adventurous girl who was brave enough to show her brains and her guts. For once, beauty had nothing to do with it.
Soon I was 13 and even more poignantly for a girl entering high school with peers who were worried about boys and bras and body weight, I saw this same character come alive on screen.
Watch the video playing above to see the best of Emma Watson.
Emma Watson brought Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series to life and in doing so, made herself an icon to young women and girls worldwide.
Today the actress’ personality—intelligent, brave, passionate, fair—seems so intertwined with that of her characters’ that it’s difficult to see where the one stops and the other begins.
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series agrees: “I spoke to Emma on the phone when she auditioned for the role of Hermione,” she recalled. “She was very young, I think she was 10, and I thought: ‘You are going to be able to play a very bright articulate girl with conviction because that’s who you are.'”
Mia Freedman sits down with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Post continues below.
Since then, Watson has gone from being one type of hero: A wand-wielding schoolgirl who punches Draco Malfoy in the face while standing up to the Dark Lord and keeping two best friends in check.
To another: A young woman who believes in and fights for equality and fairness for all women and girls around the world.
At age 17, after being critically acclaimed for her role in Harry Potter, Watson acknowledged that she would never have to work for money again.
She instead graduated in 2014 from Brown University in Providence, RI, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and that same year was appointed as a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, launching the campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to push for gender equality.
Watson has traveled around the world campaigning for the rights of women to have access to education and political equality.
She has spoken out about the assumptions and expectations—to be sexy and not bossy—placed upon women purely because of their gender.
She's founded a feminist book club, called Our Shared Shelf.
And still, just like the Hogwarts first-year who corrected Ron Weasley on his pronunciation of the levitation charm ("It's LeviOsa, not LevioSA."), the now 27-year-old actress and activist is not afraid to call-out bad behaviour.
Indeed, when criticised for being "hypocritical" after appearing in a photoshoot that showed her breasts earlier this year, Watson fired back:
"Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women but is instead about freedom, liberation and equality," she said. "I really don't see what my tits have to do with it."
Top Comments
I think it's great she is using her fame for good intentions but I don't know that she's a hero. She hasn't lived a life where she's literally had to fight for what she is saying. Malala has and also fights for the same things. That girl is a hero. She survived being attacked and almost killed by the Taliban because she spoke out about girls being able to get an education when they wanted to take that away. She is still a target because she not only survived, she continues speaking out about women's and girls rights, education and status. That is a hero
What, so only people who've been persecuted and hunted have the right to stand up for equality and be rewarded for doing so? That's a rather silly argument. I'd say both Malala and Emma are heroes - one standing up to change the threats to education that she experienced, and one who stood up for others in spite of never experiencing a direct threat to her education simply as a result of being a girl. Does the one who stands up for other despite her circumstances mean less to you? Would it have been better if she'd simply not bothered at all and just carried on as if others didn't face these difficulties?
I think we will have to agree to disagree Hobart girl. As I said, itscgood that she is using her notoriety for good but this is a girl that has had not lived knowing the struggle first hand. See the argument below- this person points out exactly the crux of my point. It's great yes but it doesn't make her a hero.
An alternative perspective: Watson is a child actress who has been lucky to have survived to adulthood without being a victim to fame. She has been appointed to a position by the U.N. based on her fame rather than any qualifications or reason to be considered a political spokesperson. I have little doubt she is well-intentioned, but a leader she is not.
Can you define leader for me?
The vehicle that got her into that position is irrelevant. She has power and influence. It is what a person does those gifts that matter, not how they acquired them.
I agree. While i think its great that she speaks her mind and seems to be a very positive role model if she is your only role model that is sad. there are so many women who have battled against the odds to set up businesses, get educated, make positive changes I their communities etc . She made so much money as a child she can sit in a privileged position and say what she wants. That's all she does.
Exactly. I'm sure many Parliamentarians didn't have to battle against the odds to get an education or a leg up when trying to get into politics. Most are incredibly privileged, had money and were well connected. Not that they seem to do much good in their positions of power...
So what would you rather be doing? Sitting around looking pretty on Instagram? Surely her using her privileged position as a voice for those who have no voice is a good thing?