Emma Watson Opens Up About Life After ‘Harry Potter’ in Hollywood It Broke Me
Emma Watson has candidly discussed how her time working on the Harry Potter films influenced her expectations of Hollywood, making it challenging for her to adapt to the industry afterward.
Famous for her role as Hermione Granger, Watson shared that growing up on the Harry Potter set was a unique experience compared to typical film productions. She noted that the cast and crew formed a tight-knit community, having worked together for over a decade.
“It’s so unusual to make a set of films for 12 years,” she mentioned on the podcast during the interview. “We were a community, we really were. So I took that as an expectation into my other workplaces, and I got my a– kicked. I really did.”
Watson first took on the role of Hermione Granger at just 11 years old, continuing through all eight films in the franchise, with the final installment released in 2011 when she was 21. She has often reflected on how this environment significantly shaped her career and personal perspective.
Upon transitioning to other film sets, Watson realized that not every Hollywood workplace fostered the same sense of closeness or camaraderie, which proved to be a difficult adjustment.
“It was bone-breakingly painful,” she described, highlighting the stark contrast between Harry Potter and her subsequent projects. She noted that many in the industry are primarily focused on their individual roles and ambitions rather than forming friendships on set.
Watson admitted this shift led her to question her suitability for Hollywood. The emotional toll was significant and at times overwhelming.
“I’m just not thick-skinned,” she expressed. “Maybe I just wasn’t built for those kinds of highly competitive environments. It broke me.”
Despite these challenges, Watson appreciates the experiences in a complex way. She believes that navigating through tough moments has helped her remain grounded and honest about her limits in her career.
“But in a way I’m proud that it did,” she reflected. “I guess that means I have something left to break. I have a heart left to break.”
She further added, “There’s something that I’m proud of in a way, that there were certain things I couldn’t withstand. I’d much rather keep my humanity.”
Following Harry Potter, Watson starred in major films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Women (2019). However, she later chose to step back from acting and became more selective about her projects, particularly regarding the demands of promotion and publicity.
“I do not miss selling things,” she stated in a previous interview, describing the promotional aspect of Hollywood as “soul-destroying.”
Watson’s reflections underscore how her early fame shaped her expectations of the entertainment industry and the emotional and professional hurdles she faced while transitioning from child star to adult actress.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!