While many of us were busy playing on the playground and stressing about upcoming exams, Emma Watson stepped into the limelight at just 10 years old, taking on a leading role in one of the most successful movie franchises in history.
The actress made her film debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, sharing the screen with her cherished co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. Their lives were transformed forever when the film was released in 2001.
You can picture the influence she wielded when she returned to school sporadically between filming over the next few years. However, achieving fame at such a young age proved to be a double-edged sword.
During her appearance on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross in July 2009, the then-19-year-old shared insights into how her life contrasted with that of most teenagers and discussed how she managed her celebrity status.
Watson explained that she frequently couldn’t attend birthday parties and sleepovers hosted by her friends back home. However, she stated that she “never felt like she was missing out” because of the incredible experiences she was gaining from playing Hermione Granger.
She told the chat show host, “There were breaks between filming, and I would always return to school, so I got to see my friends during those times. It felt like both parts of my life were kind of a holiday.”
“I’d take a break from school to do something really exciting and fun, and then I’d return to see all my friends. I was always busy with work, but it was thrilling and enjoyable.”
Ross then inquired about the inevitable popularity that came with being a central member of the Harry Potter cast and how she managed the attention from male admirers.
The 63-year-old broadcaster asked Watson how people typically approached her and attempted to win her over. It turns out that wizarding-world-themed puns were not an effective strategy for securing a date with the young witch.
There was one particular approach that she found especially “tragic” as well.
The actress replied, “It’s incredible how many—I’m not sure you can even call them chat-up lines—come from broomsticks, wands, and other things.”
Watson continued, “Another thing they do is come up to me thinking—tragically—that they’re being really original and funny, as if I’ve never heard it before.”
“They approach me and say, ‘Oh, you’re the girl from Narnia, aren’t you?'”
“Obviously, they know I’m not. They think it’s funny because… I don’t really understand why they find it amusing; it’s not actually that funny,” she giggled.
“It’s like, that’s the tenth time I’ve heard that, or maybe it was Lord of the Rings that some other guy said two minutes ago.”
Sounds like she should have cast a ‘Silencio’ spell on those guys!
