Most of us know her as Hermione Granger. But do we know who Emma Watson really is?
Some of us grew up watching Harry Potter movies, from the first one Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to the latest, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. But we are not the only one who did. Even the cast, like Emma Watson, grew up along with the film series.
Born on April 15th, 1990, Emma Watson is not just Hermione Granger. Her passion for fashion has brought up her modeling career. And her awareness of feminism has done a fair share of justice to her role as activist.
Whether it is because of the fact she grew up acting through Hermione’s character, or it is just the way she is, apparently she turned out to be similar to that character. You can tell from the way she carries out herself or things she values in her life.
So, what have years of playing in blockbuster series brought her? How rich is Emma Watson? How the spotlight of fame has been treating her? We answer all of those in this exclusive list of fifteen things you didn’t know about Emma Watson.
15. How did she start it all?
Some stars had to dig deep and climb hard to even get the chance to become what they are today. But some others are lucky enough to get the breakthrough they need right away. However, most of those people lost it just as fast as they got it.
Emma Watson is one of the lucky few to get the breakthrough in reaching the top and able to stay there for long.
She is popularly known from Harry Potter movie series, and that is how she started it all. J. K. Rowling and the rest of producers intended to cast new talents for the series. Then, series of auditions were held. When Rowling first talked to Emma on the phone, she fell in love with the little girl. So, even though Hermione was supposed to be gawky and ugly, Rowling still cast the beautiful Emma anyway.
Since the age of six, Emma knew she wanted to be an actress. So, she went to Oxford’s Stagecoach Theater Arts to study acting. That is where she got most of her school plays and production gigs until she got the Harry Potter break by the age of nine.
14. How rich is Emma Watson?
Emma Watson is only 26 years old today. Yet, she is making so much more money than some other mid-20 people combined.
For each of Harry Potter movies, Emma was paid around $15 million. And that does not include other payments she got from her role as Hermione Granger, including some endorsement deals. The legendary series went on for ten years, so it should come as no surprise that Emma has bagged around $70 million of estimated net worth.
One of her biggest endorsements came when she was just eighteen. She was chosen to be the face of one of the most expensive perfume brands in the world, Chanel. So, while most teenage girls cannot even afford to buy Chanel perfume, Emma got two years of unlimited supply of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. In addition to that, she got a £3-million payment for the two-year contract of promoting the brand.
Emma is lucky to have generous close friends. Even though they know she is rich and making a lot of money, they don’t her treat them for anything. Awe, can I be your friends too, guys?
13. Living with Her Parents
Besides not splurging with her friends by treating them on a luxury dinner or cruise ship trip, Emma is pretty much down to earth when it comes to money. The exclusive things she wears are mostly endorsed, so she does not spend too much on too little things.
She is still living with her mom where she has been living since they moved back to England after living in Paris where she was born. And during her spare time, Emma usually spends her weekend at her father’s house. Both of her parents are lawyers. And they pretty much have had decent life even before Emma became Hermione.
So, unlike most teenage celebrities, Emma is not living too large. And she is spending her money wisely.
This goes to her choice of car as well. No luxury Porsche for Emma, just a cool Toyota Prius. A brand new unit of Prius costs around $25,000. And people say your car tells what kind of person you are. What do you think of Emma with her Prius?
12. Gringotts gold? No thanks.
Since Emma Watson is not spending much, you should be able to tell that she is not looking for much either. Becoming an actress is her passion, but it is not for the money and fame.
Emma said that she will not take any role in a movie just for the big paycheck. She chooses her movies well. And she wants to play the role she loves in a movie she will be proud of. Pretty wise, isn’t it?
However, rumor has it: Emma turned down La La Land. And that movie is currently dominating Oscars nominations. Instead of Emma Watson, La La Land got the other Emma. But to be fair, our Emma turned the role down for the highly anticipated Beauty and the Beast.
Besides Harry Potter series, Emma starred another award-winning movie, The Perks of being a Wallflower. Let see how the movie enthusiast react on the upcoming Beauty and the Beast and if she made the right decision.
11. What is her secret of success?
A 26-year-old with $70 million of net worth. What is her secret?
Unfortunately, this part of her story does not tell a lot. As mentioned before, she practically got her breakthrough as an actress because of the Harry Potter series.
But the breakthrough wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t started to take acting class since she was so young. And as you can see, she has shown her talent ever since she was just a little annoying Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
However, sometimes the struggles to reach the top are nothing compared to the efforts to stay there. Even though she hasn’t done anything as big as Harry Potter to this point, she is pretty successful in keeping her acting career in the spotlight. Plus, Emma is not just about acting. She has grown to be a smart and elegant woman fans adore.
10. Balancing Hollywood and Formal Education
This is a part of Emma Watson’s secret of success. By simply becoming who she is, she stands out among the rest. And that is what you need to succeed in the tough competition of entertainment business these days.
Emma values the importance of education. It is not about the degree, but it is about being educated. And ever since she was so young, she understands this. Most child actors and actresses would have put their million-dollar acting jobs first before their education. But Emma survived ten years of Harry Potter acting jobs without neglecting her study.
The only time she was forced to put her acting job first was when she took a break from college to shoot Harry Potter movie. Because of that, it took her five years instead of four to finish. But she did it anyway. And now she has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brown University.
Besides that, Emma is also certified in yoga and meditation. She said meditation helps her in finding a way to always feel safe and at home within herself. Because we can never rely on a physical place.
9. The UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
Emma Watson made it to Forbes list twice and both have nothing to do with her wealth. In 2007, Forbes named her as the 97th most powerful celebrity. Imagine that, she was only seventeen by then, yet she was able to move others.
The second time came just two years ago when Emma made it to the exclusive Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. It is a list of thirty people under thirty years of age who have contributed in changing the world through what they do best. And the main reason why she made it to that list was the fact that she was named as the UN Ambassador for Women Goodwill on the same year.
Her speech before the UN went viral. She was speaking on behalf of the HeForShe campaign. And on that day, she made her stand as the advocate for gender equality.
The United Nation appointed her as one of the ambassadors because of her work for humanity. For several years, she has been promoting girls’ education in third-world countries like Bangladesh, Zambia, and other parts of rural Africa.
8. Skin Lightening Controversy
Being in the spotlight, especially after you have been officially appointed as a role model, can be really tough. And Emma Watson is no exception to this.
However, even before she was a UN ambassador, her fans already look up to her. She was already and advocate to humanitarian causes, such as education for girls. Just like the famous Oprah Winfrey.
So, when she appeared on Lancome ads for Blanc Expert Melanolyser product, fans were horrified. They accused her of being the advocate for skin lightening product, which contradicts her value in feminism. Back in 2013, this issue was all over Twitter. And she was heavily criticized for it.
But to be fair, Emma did not sign up specifically for that product. She was endorsed by L’Oreal, the parent company of Lancome, to promote their products. And for your information, the product does not really promote lightening skin, but getting rid of dark spots on one’s face.
7. Rupert Grint Fandom
Watching two love birds on screen can leave you fantasizing for more. Hold on, wipe those dirty thoughts off your mind, guys. I’m talking about fandom fantasy of the actor and actress getting romantically involved off screen as they do on screen here.
So, as Hermione and Ron became a thing on screen, fans wonder, wanting, and fantasizing them getting together outside of the wizardry world as well. Especially after Rupert admitted that he had a crush on Emma when they were filming the last two Harry Potter movies. Awe, aren’t they cute?
Unfortunately, Emma and Rupert never came close to it. They hang out, though. And they do love each other as close friends.
As the two kissed on screen for the final scene shot in the chamber of secret, they were asked about it. Well, the answers were not romantic at all. Emma was afraid, yet she kept giggling during the take. And on the other hand, Rupert was not really impressed by the kiss. Should we do a remake, guys?
6. Disney Princess on screen, UK Princess in real life?
Emma Watson is portraying Belle on the upcoming Beauty and the Beast movie. After turning down Cinderella, she will finally be a Disney princess on screen. But what about in real life?
Emma has never been so open about her love life. She does not hide it, though. It’s just that she keeps it privately in her own elegant way. But about two years ago, a rumor about Emma dating UK’s Prince Harry was all over the social media. They were rumored to have secret dates after her breakup with a British rugby player.
It all started from one year before, when Emma met the other Prince, Prince William, at a dinner party to celebrate the work of Royal Marsden Hospital. So, she must have met the younger brother, right?
And I think this has something to do with the Hermione-Ron fandom as well. Some people say that Prince Harry is the better looking, richer version of Ron Weasley.
Emma responded to this issue through her Twitter handle: “WORLD 
Remember that little talk we had about not believing everything written in the media?!”
5. Drinking = Disrespectful
Remember that scene on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where the three were hanging out drinking butterbeer? Well, the romantic awkwardness Ron and Hermione shared when she had buttery-foam mustache is not the only thing that is not happening in real life. Since butterbeer contains alcohol, Emma will try not to pick it from a diner’s menu.
It is not that she never drinks, though. Growing up in Paris, the home of fine dining, her parents mostly had dinner with a glass of wine. And Emma said, they let her drink even from a young age.
Regardless, Emma thinks drinking is disrespectful, not just to others but also to yourself. So, when she heard that Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, was struggling through alcohol addiction, she was surprised.
However, about five years ago, a picture of Emma having fun while drinking a bottle of beer went viral. Well, perhaps she felt it was okay to be disrespectful that time.
4. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Because of her elegant composure, not many people know that Emma Watson has ADHD. And she has been medicated ever since she was a little kid. Imagine dealing with that and maintaining the balance between your acting career and your education. Knowing this, you gotta have a new level of respect for Emma Watson.
ADHD is a mental disorder which is characterized by difficulty in controlling behavior and paying attention. Most children with ADHD suffer from poor school performance. But Emma got through it and got herself a bachelor’s degree.
She has never talked about her condition, though. But she does not deny it either. Regardless, she has inspired others. And she is indeed a good role model for girls (and also boys) with ADHD.
Perhaps, this fact also inspires her through her humanitarian actions. If she can conquer ADHD and go to an Ivy League school, so can everyone else.
3. Panama Papers
As mentioned earlier, Emma Watson has been officially named as an ambassador, advocate, and role model. And since then, her actions have either been highly praised or criticized. It just comes with the package.
So, when her name was found in the ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists) database called the Panama Papers, people were reacting. On the database, she was named as a beneficiary in an offshore company based in British Virgin Islands, which is one of the world’s tax havens.
Emma’s spokesperson confirmed this. But he also emphasized the fact that she does not receive any tax or monetary advantages from the offshore company. And the reason why she set the company up is solely for her privacy.
Well, apparently Gringotts is still no longer save that our own Hermione needs another “bank” to store her money.
2. A Spiritual Universalist
Religion is a delicate issue. People normally don’t go around asking one’s religion, unless it was necessary. But when Emma Watson starred Noah three years ago, this matter surfaced. She was asked about her faith. And she described herself as a spiritual universalist to The Telegraph.
Universalism may not be one of the most powerful religions in the world, but its theological concept is fundamental to other religions and its philosophical concept is pretty popular.
In theological sense, universalism teaches that religion is a universal human quality. And it has a strong influence in religions, such as Hinduism.
But spiritual universalism is more universal than specifically religious to just one belief. So, as a spiritual universalist, Emma believes in a higher power but does not think one religion is better than the rest. And she sees that there are unifying tenets among so many religions.
1. Popularity Makes Her Claustrophobic
If there was a way to become an actress without the fame, Emma Watson would be the first person to sign up for it. Unfortunately, fame is something she has to deal with as her career rises. And her ten years of fame with Harry Potter series have sent her popularity up to the roof, especially in the UK.
Emma went to Brown University which is located in Rhode Island, United States instead of going to university in UK. Surely there are other better universities in UK. So, why did she choose to go overseas?
The truth is, UK has made her feel claustrophobic. You would think you want her fame, but you wouldn’t want people coming at you mumbling “Wingardium Leviosa!” on every corner of the street. And with ADHD, that is the last thing Emma needs.
So, now that you know a bit more about Emma Watson, what do you think about her? Is she someone inspiring to you? Share your thoughts in the comment section! And spread these 15 facts through social media by simply sharing the article. Thank you for reading!
