Emma Watson's role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise grabbed many people's attention for her stellar performance. Watson landed her breakthrough role as Hermione with little to no prior acting experience, and the character was practically made for the actor, considering their strikingly similar personality traits. But what other films has the Potter celebrity starred in?
After Watson didn't have her hands full anymore with Harry Potter, she began to star in various films outside of the Potter franchise. Through these other films, viewers got to see Watson shine in additional roles and not only recognize her from the Harry Potter film series.
Emma Watson Proved Herself an Amazing Period Drama Actress in Little Women
While the 1994 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel Little Women with Winona Ryder and Christian Bale is more well-known, the classic novel was remade once again under the direction of Greta Gerwig. The 2019 film followed the familiar story of the four March sisters and their tumultuous love lives, especially regarding their childhood friend and neighbor, Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, played by Timotheé Chalamet. Watson starred as Margaret "Meg" March, the eldest sister who married Laurie's tutor, John. Watson's role as Meg proved her ability to take on period dramas, which many fans never doubted considering her elegance.
Watson Began to Star in Mature Roles in Perks of Being a Wallflower
Watson is no stranger to book-to-film adaptations, like the Harry Potter film series and Little Women. She also starred in another film adaptation, based on Stephen Chbosky's 1999 novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Chbosky ensured his novel was done correctly in an adaptation when he signed on to direct the film. He picked Watson for the role of Sam Button, the main love interest of Logan Lerman's Charlie.
This coming-of-age film was a step in the right direction for Watson's mature roles considering the heavy topics Perks of Being a Wallflower dealt with, like mental health and abuse. Fans of the film will never forget the scene where Watson's character stood on the back of a truck in a tunnel as David Bowie's "Heroes" played in the background. Sam's free-spirited lifestyle through this scene is a contradiction of Watson's previous roles, and viewers got to see the different personalities Watson could portray.
Watson Played Another Bookworm in Beauty and the Beast
Disney fans braced for impact when they first heard that a live-action version of the classic film Beauty and the Beast was in the works. When Watson was announced as Belle after turning down the role of Cinderella, the princess in the majestic yellow gown, fans couldn't contain their excitement. Like Hermione, Belle is also a bookworm, which made even more sense for Watson's portrayal. The 2017 film featured dominant names in the acting industry, like Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor and more familiar faces. The live-action version did not disappoint fans with its incorporation of the animated film's classic ballads and dazzling visual effects. Watson portrayed the intelligent princess with sophisticated poise, and one of her only critiques was her overly auto-tuned singing voice.
Watson Had a Brief but Memorable Role in My Week With Marilyn
Around the same time as Perks of Being a Wallflower, Watson starred in the 2011 drama My Week with Marilyn as Lucy Armstrong. The film is based on two books by Colin Clark, portrayed by Eddie Redmayne. My Week with Marilyn detailed the production of the 1957 film The Prince and The Showgirl, which starred Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, portrayed by Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh respectively. Lucy was the wardrobe assistant on set and Colin's initial love interest. Watson's role was small in comparison to other bigger names, but she still made an impression on viewers despite her limited screen time with her emotional performance when she realized her boyfriend's connection with Marilyn.
Watson Carried 2014's Noah on Her Shoulders
The 2014 film Noah retold the biblical story of Noah's Ark through the acting performances of several big stars, like Watson, Russell Crowe and Logan Lerman. Watson starred as Ila, the love interest of Noah's oldest son named Shem, played by Douglas Booth. Noah received mixed reviews among viewers, especially for its influence and incorporation of plot points from sources outside of the Bible. Despite not sticking to what the story was actually about, Watson carried the weight of this film all on her shoulders. She physically and emotionally prepared for her role as pregnant Ila by interviewing pregnant women and adding the actual weight of twin babies to her costume. Her realistic attention to detail paid off, especially during the emotionally heavy birthing scene.