Emma Watson is arguably one of the most in-demand actresses in Hollywood. Emma rose to fame at the tender age of ten, when she took on the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise.
Watson’s stellar performance in the highly acclaimed films left many Hollywood filmmakers itching to work with her.
Due to her undeniable acting talent and tremendous star power, Watson has had the rare opportunity of starring in multiple megahit films, including Noah, The Bling Ring, and Little Women.
The A-lister has also leveraged her fame for social activism and to promote the feminist movement. Shockingly, Watson had no idea she could leverage her fame to these extents until the Harry Potter films wrapped. So, when did Watson finally realize how famous she was?
Emma Watson Did Not Realize How Famous She Was Until The Harry Potter Films Ended
Emma Watson practically grew up in the spotlight. Due to her involvement in the Harry Potter franchise, the prolific actress was already a household name by age nine.
Watson’s popularity remained on an upward trajectory even after the Harry Potter franchise had run its course. With this in mind, it would be difficult to imagine a time when Watson had no idea how famous she was. As it turns out, the Noah star was oblivious to her fame for the first decade of her career.
In an interview with GQ, Watson disclosed that she didn’t fully appreciate her fame until the Harry Potter films wrapped in 2010.
“We made [the Harry Potter] films in this weird bubble,” Watson revealed. “It’s only after the films ended, and I remember taking a trip out to LA and my agent saying, ‘You should really take some meetings, you should go and meet people.’ It was only then that it really dawned on me, and it was quite overwhelming when it did, but every single studio head of every big studio in Hollywood gave up their time and came and met me personally. I really didn’t understand that I had that kind of power. I genuinely didn’t.”
Why Emma Watson Remained Unaware Of Her Fame For So Long
It seems inconceivable that Emma Watson was able to remain oblivious of her fame for so long. However, according to the Beauty and the Beast star, she rarely had to grapple with publicity while filming Harry Potter.
“I lived this very sheltered life, where I’d have a chauffeur come and pick me up to take me to the studios,” she explained to GQ. “I’d only see this very specific group of people who I was doing these films with. I’d get back in my car and go home and do the same thing the next day.”
Watson’s upbringing might also be one of the reasons she was able to remain so blissfully unaware of her fame for so long. “I think my parents were very focused on keeping me down to earth, the Noah star admitted to GQ.
“The biggest compliment I’ve ever had, getting ready for a premiere or whatever, is that I scrub up all right. I don’t know. I didn’t fully understand what it all meant. I really didn’t have any perspective of it. I was actually just incredibly naive about the whole thing.”
Emma Watson Does Not Rely Too Heavily On Her Fame To Earn Roles
While Watson has been able to leverage her fame to propel her career and champion worthy causes, she is keen not to develop a sense of entitlement.
“I would never think I was entitled to that type of position of privilege or power without having really earned it. I feel like an imposter just being an actress. Just like someone could find me out at any moment. I never studied acting. I am embarrassed that I go to meetings and directors reference films and I haven’t seen any of them.”
Despite having her pick of projects, Watson still works hard to earn every role she gets.
“I really believe that you have to earn things. I don’t feel comfortable unless I have worked really hard,” she told GQ. “I worked hard to get Hermione, and my mum has a video I did for the first audition, and she has me doing the same take over and over, like 27 times from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon, and I was just relentless. I wasn’t sure I wanted to act, but I was sure I wanted this part.”
