BY: Amanda Jane Stern

Emma Watson rose to fame for her portrayal of Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter movie franchise. Unlike many former child stars, she continued to act as she grew up. But, Watson took a break from the business to attend Brown University and earn her bachelor’s degree in English literature. While she doesn’t have any upcoming projects, let’s look at some of her best work (aside from the Harry Potter franchise) to date. 

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

This historical drama, based on two books, recounts the making of the Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier film The Prince and the Showgirl. It tells the story of Colin (Eddie Redmayne), the production assistant tasked with helping Monroe and her new husband, Arthur Miller. Watson played Lucy, the wardrobe assistant and Colin’s friend.

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

This movie, based on the Stephen Chbosky book of the same name, is about an awkward teen named Charlie (Logan Lerman) who gets taken in by outgoing older students Sam (Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller). As his friendship with them develops, he starts to come out of his shell and discover himself.

 

The Bling Ring (2013)

The Sofia Coppola satirical crime movie is based on the 2010 Vanity Fair article “The Suspects Wore Louboutins” by Nancy Jo Sales. The article told of a gang known as The Bling Ring. They were a group of fame-obsessed teens who tracked down and robbed celebrities.

 

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Watson starred as Belle in this live-action Disney adaptation of the classic animated Beauty and the Beast. The movie followed the same story as the cartoon version, with a few small changes. It follows an arrogant prince who is turned into a beast by an enchantress. He must learn how to love to break the curse.

 

Little Women (2019)

Watson starred as Meg, the eldest of the four March sisters in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel. The film follows the lives of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth, in Concord, Massachusetts during the 19th century. The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards.

 

Her activism work

In addition to acting, Watson is also an outspoken feminist. In 2014 she was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for her work promoting education for girls. She launched the HeForShe campaign, which encourages men to stand up for gender equality. Of course, her activism was met with backlash. After a photo of her in Vanity Fair, where her breasts were partly visible, she was labeled a hypocrite. Watson responded by saying that feminism “is not a stick with which to beat other women. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it.”