Emma Watson, renowned for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series, has opened up about her extended break from acting.
In a rare candid interview with Hollywood Authentic published on Sunday, September 21, the 35-year-old actress shared her feelings on stepping away from the limelight.
Watson revealed that while she “profoundly” misses the art of acting, she finds the promotional aspects of filmmaking to be a severe negative.
She explained that the joy of immersing herself in a character and the collaborative process on set is overshadowed by the pressures of selling a film to the public.
“But a bigger component than the actual job itself is the promotion and selling of that piece of work,” Watson admitted. “This piece of art. The balance of that can get quite thrown off.”
She further emphasized, “I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying.”
She also mentioned how was briefly in a play for her friends, though she didn’t mention when it was.
“I did a small thing for a play, just with my friends,” she said. “I was like, ‘Bloody hell, this is stressful!’ And that wasn’t even for a real public audience or anything. I don’t miss that.”
Watson Teases a New Project
Despite her hiatus, Watson has not completely stepped away from the industry.
She hinted at working on a new project that she described as something “I’ve never done before,” though she declined to provide further details.
She told the outlet how this mystery process has made her feel. “I feel a bit like a person who’s in the dark, stumbling around, looking for the edges of something, and hoping [laughs]. It sounds like I’m trying to find a light switch. But it’s good. That’s the process.”
Watson Is Happier Than Ever
Additionally, Watson mentioned that she feels “maybe the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been,” suggesting that her time away has allowed her to focus on personal growth and well-being.
She last appeared in the 2019 film “Little Women” and last acted in a 2022 short film for Prada.
She also told the outlet how actors can lose themselves in roles.
“I think what’s interesting about being an actor is, there’s a tendency to sort of fracture yourself into multiple personalities,” she added. “I’m not just talking about the roles you play, but having the weight of a public persona, that sort of needs constant feeding and sprucing and glamorising. It’s very energy-intensive stuff.”
