Cover From Hermione to Belle, Emma Watson has always chosen her roles with purpose (Photo: JB Lacroix/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
From Hermione to Belle, Emma Watson has always chosen her roles with purpose (Photo: JB Lacroix/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
1 / 1
As Emma Watson turns 36, we revisit the bold, deliberate roles that revealed a screen talent far greater than the one she was born into
Emma Watson turns 36 on April 15, and the quiet life she has built looks nothing like the one the world once scripted for her. The girl who spent a decade as the brightest witch of her age—filming under klieg lights and delivering 16-page character essays while one co-star wrote a single page and the other wrote none—has, in recent years, chosen something far more radical than fame: intentionality. Since wrapping Little Women in 2018, she has traded red carpets for Oxford’s dreaming spires, where she is pursuing a DPhil in Creative Writing at New College, and also co-founded Renais, a sustainable luxury gin brand distilled from her family’s Grand Cru grape skins in Chablis.
Watson described her previous life as having reached its lowest point—and then she did something about it. But before the doctoral thesis, the boardroom and the activism that redefined what a celebrity platform could look like, there was the screen. And a filmography that proved, with growing force and clarity, that Emma Watson was always far more than Hermione Granger.
In case you missed it: The richest member of Blackpink? How Lisa structures her investment portfolio
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001) – the cultural reset
Above Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’
Selected at age nine after eight gruelling auditions, Emma Watson beat thousands of hopefuls to claim the role of Hermione Granger alongside Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley). What followed was a ten-year, eight-film franchise that grossed over US$7.7 billion worldwide. Watson’s Hermione—fiercely intelligent, deeply loyal—became the emotional and intellectual heartbeat of a generation-defining saga, and the foundation upon which an extraordinary career would be built.
‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (2012) – the indie rebirth
Above Emma Watson plays the free-spirited Sam in ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’
Emma Watson’s first major post-Potter role was a deliberate and inspired pivot. Cast as the vivacious, free-spirited Sam opposite Logan Lerman (Charlie) in Stephen Chbosky’s beloved adaptation, she shed the period-piece expectations placed on British actresses and delivered a performance that was raw, contemporary and deeply felt. Critics took note immediately. It was a signal, unambiguous and confident, that Watson had both the instinct and the range to inhabit a world far beyond Hogwarts.
‘The Bling Ring’ (2013) – the satirical pivot
Above Emma Watson plays fame-obsessed Nicki in Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Bling Ring’
Collaborating with visionary director Sofia Coppola, Emma Watson made the boldest image-reversal of her early career, playing Nicki—a morally vacant, fame-obsessed teenager involved in real-life celebrity home burglaries. The irony was delicious: a global star satirising the very culture of celebrity worship she herself found increasingly alienating. It was a sharp, unsettling performance that announced a willingness to be genuinely uncomfortable on screen.
Don’t miss: Justin Bieber’s Coachella 2026 comeback: 8 emotional moments from his healing performance
‘Noah’ (2014) – the biblical intensity
Above Emma Watson as Ila alongside Russell Crowe in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’
Working with visionary director Darren Aronofsky and starring alongside Russell Crowe (Noah), Emma Watson brought nuance and emotional gravitas to Ila in this sweeping biblical epic. It was her closing monologue, in particular, that drew the most critical praise—a moment of rare, unguarded intensity that highlighted a dramatic capability frequently underestimated in an actress so closely associated with a single iconic role. Here, there was no doubt: this was a serious talent at work.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017) – the global powerhouse
Above Emma Watson as Belle in Disney’s live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Emma Watson returned to blockbuster territory entirely on her terms, accepting the role of Belle in Disney’s live-action reimagining because she saw the character as a genuinely modern role model. Opposite Dan Stevens (the Beast), she recast Belle not as a passive romantic lead but as a book-loving, intellectually driven inventor. Audiences responded with enthusiasm. The film grossed US$1.26 billion worldwide, reaffirming Watson’s marquee value while cementing her commitment to purposeful storytelling.
‘Little Women’ (2019) – the auteur milestone
Above Emma Watson as Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed ‘Little Women’
Joining a luminous ensemble that included Saoirse Ronan (Jo March), Emma Watson played the often-overlooked Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s critically acclaimed adaptation, a film that earned a 95 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a choice that prioritised artistic credibility over star-making leads, and it proved prescient. The film became one of the most celebrated literary adaptations of its decade, and it remains, to date, Watson’s final major screen performance: a quietly perfect full stop.
‘Prada Paradoxe’ (2022) – the directorial debut
Above Emma Watson steps behind the camera for the Prada Paradoxe campaign in 2022
Emma Watson’s transition from screen to director came not via a feature film but through a high-fashion campaign. Tasked with writing and directing the Prada Paradoxe fragrance campaign, she demonstrated a confident visual sensibility and a creative voice entirely her own. It was a quiet but significant statement: whatever Watson does next—and she has confirmed she’s actively working on something new—she intends to be the one holding the pen.
NOW READ
Aespa Karina’s style: 8 memorable looks that switch from soft girl to AI goddess
Inside the RM art collection: What the BTS leader’s SFMOMA curation reveals about his eye
From Bini’s Coachella breakthrough to SB19 and 4Eve: 10 SEAPop groups worth listening to
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
