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December 14, 2005 - Emma … Hermione … same girl?

Will you ever look at actress Emma Watson and not see Hermione Granger? Someday. But right now, Emma is all abut playing Harry Potter’s super-smart sidekick.

It’s said that behind every great man is a great woman. Sounds like a compliment, except for one little detail: Women are not always behind men. Lots of times, the girl is ahead the guy, paving the way for his heroism and big muscles with her intuition and big brains. If you’re Hermione Granger, it’s also with big hair.

With her fourth movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire about to hit theaters worldwide, Emma Watson mindfully reinforces Hermione as a strong, smart female character for all girls to admire. “I’ve been denying that I’m like her for ages, but I think now she’s a really great role model. It’s nice to be compared to her,” says Emma. “We do share some attributes, like I love school, I work hard, and I’m a feminist–I’m very pro girl!” It’s obvious Emma understands the importance of Hermione’s place in the Harry Potter history … probably because it’s her history, too.

The Oxford-born Emma was only 9 when she became Hermione. She’s nearly 16 now and, like the character she plays, is a studious intellectual with hyper-driven ambition. “The vast majority of the auditions were them asking me questions about myself,” Emma says. “Then they started having me read, and I think the lines I was given were where I was talking to Harry about not going after Sirius Black. I wanted it more than anything in my whole life.” So let’s give credit where credit is due. Emma is Hermione.

She had never been in front of a camera before she auditioned for the role–so snaps in no small doses to Emma’s natural talent. She’s made us love Hermione as much as we love Harry. Sometimes, we love her even more because she’s the Hogwart cohort who fearlessly comes up with the perfect spell, the fast plan of action, or some awarding insight just when Harry and R-R-R-Ron are about to crack under pressure. But when Emma isn’t Hermione … then what?

GL readers from all over e-mailed us their questions about everything Emma–her life as Hermione, plus plenty of dish about Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. Here are those questions with Emma’s answers, all the way from London on the set of Phoenix. Glorious!

GL: What do you like best about Rupert Grint?

Emma: I love Rupert because he has the best comic timing of anyone! I think he’s absolutely hilarious. He can make me laugh like no one else.

What do you like best about Daniel Radcliffe?

Dan is just … It’s hard to find one specific thing. He’s just a really good friend to me. He’s really kind and a good guy. He’s really generous with himself. There are times when I’m at the end of my tether, and he’ll still have energy. It doesn’t matter how tired he is, he’ll still be polite to people.

Have you ever been angry at the boys or regretted being a part of the films?

There are ups and downs with everything. Obviously, like with anything, there are things that have bothered me. But I would never in a million years take back the experience doing the films has given me. Never, ever.

Are there any secrets between the three of you that no one else is in on?

Yes, definitely. We have quite a strong friendship. Not many people know what it’s like to have been through what we’ve been through.

How have the boys changed since the first movie?

They’re just … bigger. They have deeper voices, bigger shoulders. I’ve noticed them changing because I’ve been changing with them.

What character would you like to play in the films if you could be anyone besides Hermione?

Malfoy! I’d like to be the bad guy for a change. I think it would be fun to be someone different, to be bad. It’s easier and more fun to play a severe character.

What was it like to act with all the special effects, and how does it work?

You get used to it. It’s really clever how the director does it, especially when they’re supposed to be playing quidditch, because we can’t really watch it. There are numbers in places as marks for us to look at, and the director will say “Cheers!” or “He fell off!” and we’ll all look at that number with a reaction.

What was it like to film the Yule Ball?

It was so much fun! The sets were amazing. Everyone was there and involved in some way, so it was loads of people. I got to learn how to waltz, and I got to wear a beautiful ball dress in pink silk.

How do you prepare for the really emotional scenes?

The first director really got the point across to me to not act but to relate myself to the situation that Hermione is feeling. A lot of the time, especially in this last film, if I needed to get into a state, I thought about what had that affect on me in my life.

Are you working on any other projects?

My project at the moment is my schoolwork. I’m not auditioning for other roles. I’ll maybe look for another job when I finish my exams. I’m interested in so many things that I’m not sure what particular path I want to go down. I know I want to go to college.

What is the most rewarding thing you’ve done in your life to help someone else out?
Once or twice a week throughout filming, a child from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will come to the set and meet us. It can be quite emotionally draining. I get emotionally involved and get upset because they are terminally ill children. It’s surprising how many kids’ wishes were to come to the set. It was amazing to make such a big impact, to help make them happy. It was surprising how pleased they were to meet me.

Is it weird to be famous?

It’s kind of … I dunno, it’s a bit surreal. I really don’t feel famous. I forget that I am, and someone will stop me on the street and I’ll remember. So it is weird. It’s not important to me. I don’t need people to know my name.

Do you feel like you’re a role model as Hermione is?

I don’t really know what about me would be role model-ish. I don’t think I’ve done enough to deserve that, to be honest. It’s a huge honor.

Do you feel pressure to act a certain way in public?

I don’t worry or read what people have to say. I would say I’m proud to show parts of myself, and other personal and intimate parts I don’t show. I suppose you only see certain parts of me. I try to be myself as far as possible.

Do you feel like you have to look a certain way, like with fashion and stuff?

I have always been kind of crazy with fashion. I wear and say what I feel comfortable wearing and saying. I care but not hugely. I wouldn’t say fashion dominates my life. I’m quite casual and quite practical–I wouldn’t freeze to death in a skimpy outfit! I’d say, “It’s cold, for God’s sake!” I think I’m a good mixture.

What’s the difference between American and British teens?

I don’t know that many American teens, but probably … We’re more reserved and shy. I’m always surprised at how outgoing and confident Americans are in comparison. It’s not that we’re mean or snobbish or not nice, but we don’t have that kind of … I don’t know what the word is … We’re just more reserved.

What does your room look like?

It looks like a bomb went off! It’s absolute chaos.

Have the rules changed at your house since you became Hermione?

The rules still apply! It doesn’t matter what’s going on in my life, I get the same treatment from my parents. My brother and I have to set and clear the table. I have to do household things. Nothing has changed!

Do you think you’ll keep acting?

I’d want the project to be something I’m passionate about. I won’t do a project just to do it.

Tell us something that no one knows about you.

Hmmm … I love toast! Breads, toast, I live on the stuff! And I’m particular. When you’re making toast, have your plate and your butter ready. You must butter it while it’s still warm! Yes, toast. Toast is great!

Source: Girl’s Life

Tags: 2005!

December 5, 2005 - Emma Watsons Replacement Worry

HARRY POTTER star EMMA WATSON is dreading the possibility of another actress replacing her in the magical movie saga, because she has formed an emotional attachment to her character.

Watson has played HERMIONE GRANGER in all four Potter movies to date and will also appear in the next installment, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.

However, the 15-year-old accepts she may soon be too old to star as Granger in the final two Potter films, numbers six and seven in the franchise.

She says, “I know if anyone else were to play Hermione, I would not be able to deal with that. It would kill me. I’m hugely close to her.”

And Watson admits she would only sign up to star in the forthcoming Potter sequels if she truly believed she could devote herself to the movies. She explains, “An 11 month film is huge. You work adult hours. So I think I would never want to do it if I felt that I wasn’t going to give it 100 per cent.

“So I’m not really thinking about the future. I just take it one film at a time, because otherwise I get a little bit overwhelmed.”

Source: Female First

December 3, 2005 - ‘Potter’ actress wants to keep role

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson says it would “kill” her if she was replaced in the role of Hermione.

“I know if anyone else were to play Hermione, I would not be able to deal with that,” she told the Chicago Sun Times. “It would kill me! I’m hugely close to her.”

Despite her comments, Emma refuses to confirm whether she will be staying for the final two films in the series.

“An 11-month film is huge. You work adult hours. So I think I would never want to do it if I felt that I wasn’t going to give it 100 percent,” Watson explained. “So I’m not really thinking about the future. I just take it one film at a time, because otherwise I get a little bit overwhelmed.”

Source: Digital Spy