Let’s take a look back at the marks that Emma Watson has left behind through her tireless efforts to build a better world.
In 2001, a child actress with excellent acting made a splash all over the world. From her first appearance as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Emma Watson conquered the hearts of not only the audience but also the art critics. In the eyes of everyone, Watson is a talented actress and is predicted to have a bright future. After the positive response of critics to her first role, Emma Watson, with her mature acting skills, continued to act in many genres, successfully escaping the shadow of the famous role of Hermione.
In addition to her outstanding career as a talented actress and a successful businesswoman, Watson has also left a strong mark in the fields of education, humanitarian work and social activities, raising awareness of major issues in society. Over the years, she has participated in many campaigns, supporting activities ranging from gender equality to environmental protection. Emma Watson has become a role model for young people around the world.
The witch takes the spotlight
The all-knowing witch Hermione Granger was the character that changed Watson’s life forever. And, somehow, she always knew that the role was meant for her: the actress loved J. K. Rowling’s books, and when the producers of the film showed up at her school, she immediately decided to try out. However, despite her love for the role, Watson has also shared in many interviews about the somewhat overwhelming experience of being a part of the famous series. Indeed, before filming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Watson had some serious considerations about whether or not to continue with the film project. Fortunately, she decided to go ahead with the role, and during the filming of the series, she also starred in other works, such as the TV series Ballet Shoes and the biopic My Week with Marilyn. Towards the end of the series, Watson’s acting career continued to rise and she became increasingly well-regarded after her roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring, and Noah. In 2017, the actress was cast as a Disney princess in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, and then two years later, she went on to star in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, one of the best adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel.
Attended Brown University
After starring in the Harry Potter films and despite being financially stable, Watson chose to pursue her passion for education and enrolled at Brown University. Having been involved in the series at a very young age, she had received a comprehensive but not traditionally academic education, and her time at university introduced her to a completely different educational system and perhaps brought a bit of “normalcy” into her life. Fortunately, all the students at the school respected Watson’s privacy and she was able to live and experience student life just like anyone else. Before graduating with a BA in English Literature, she spent a few months at Worcester College, Oxford, as part of the Student Exchange Program. In the grand scheme of things, it can be seen that her time at university and her acting experience laid the foundation for a promising journey into active activities later on.
The feminist movement and the fight for gender equality
While she continued to star in a number of films, over the years, Watson decided to shift her focus to her social work. A few months after graduating from college, Watson was appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. Since then, she has used her celebrity to raise awareness about a number of issues. She even took a year off to educate herself on women’s rights and other causes she wanted to pursue. One of her signature efforts over the years has been her advocacy for gender equality, which led her to launch the HeForShe campaign, which involves men in the fight for gender equality and also breaks down gender-based stereotypes. In her speech, she specifically mentioned her background, talking about how she was questioned as a child and as an adult for certain attitudes that boys her age did not have, and how her image was sexualized by the media.
In her ongoing advocacy for women’s rights, Watson has traveled to various countries to raise awareness and has also been involved in other campaigns. In 2016, she visited Malawi as part of the International Day of the Girl campaign to end child marriage. She is a strong advocate for equal pay between men and women, and has contributed to many organizations that share her goals, as well as encouraging her fans to donate rather than give her gifts.
Campaigning for the Environment
Another big campaign Watson has been involved with is sustainability, which has made her one of the most visible faces in environmental awareness campaigns. For several years now, the actress and activist has been promoting sustainable fashion brands on every red carpet event she has attended. For example, at the 2016 Met Gala, she collaborated with Calvin Klein and Eco Age to create a dress made from recycled plastic bottles. Years ago, she partnered with the commercial fashion company People Tree as a creative consultant and launched her own sustainable clothing line. In 2021, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Emma hosted a conference on climate change that featured speakers like activist Greta Thunberg. Today, she is still working hard to raise awareness among people about various issues, creating changes that have a positive impact on both the future of society and our planet.