Emma Watson is an English actress, model, and activist who rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. She has also starred in various independent films and has been involved in fashion and humanitarian causes. As of 2023, her net worth is estimated to be $85 million.
Early Life and Education
Emma Watson was born on 15 April 1990 in Paris, France, to English lawyers Chris Watson and Jacqueline Luesby. She has a younger brother named Alex and three half-siblings from her parents’ remarriages. She lived in Paris until she was five years old, then moved to Oxfordshire, England, with her mother and brother.
Watson attended the Dragon School in Oxford, where she developed an interest in acting and performed in several school plays. She also trained in singing, dancing, and acting at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts. She later enrolled at the Headington School, where she completed her GCSE exams with high grades.
Watson pursued higher education at Brown University in the United States, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 2014. She also spent a year studying at Worcester College, Oxford, as part of an exchange program. She has expressed a desire to continue her studies and obtain a master’s degree in the future.
Acting Career
Watson’s acting career began when she was cast as Hermione Granger, the smart and brave witch, in the Harry Potter film series at the age of 10. She auditioned for the role after her teachers recommended her to the casting agents. She starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in eight films based on the novels by J.K. Rowling, from 2001 to 2011. The films were a huge commercial and critical success, earning over $7.7 billion worldwide and making Watson one of the most famous and highest-paid actresses of her generation.
Watson also ventured into other genres and roles during and after the Harry Potter series. She made her television debut in the BBC adaptation of Ballet Shoes (2007), where she played an aspiring actress. She also voiced Princess Pea in the animated film The Tale of Despereaux (2008). She then appeared in My Week with Marilyn (2011), where she played a wardrobe assistant who befriended Marilyn Monroe. She received positive reviews for her performance as Sam, a free-spirited teenager, in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).
Watson continued to challenge herself with diverse and complex characters in independent films. She portrayed Alexis Neiers, a real-life celebrity burglar, in Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring (2013). She also played Noah’s adopted daughter Ila in Darren Aronofsky’s biblical epic Noah (2014). She received praise for her role as Nicki, an aspiring actress who falls victim to a cult leader, in Regression (2015).
Watson returned to mainstream cinema with two blockbuster films in 2017. She starred as Belle, the intelligent and compassionate heroine, in the live-action remake of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The film was a huge hit, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time. She also played Mae Holland, a young employee at a powerful tech company, in The Circle, based on the novel by Dave Eggers.
In 2019, Watson joined an ensemble cast of talented actresses in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women, based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. She played Meg March, the eldest sister who struggles with her artistic ambitions and domestic responsibilities. The film was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, earning six Oscar nominations and over $200 million worldwide.
Watson has not announced any new projects since Little Women. She has stated that she is taking a break from acting to focus on her personal life and activism.
Other Ventures
Apart from acting, Watson has also pursued a career in fashion and modeling. She has been a face of Burberry since 2009 and has appeared in several campaigns for the British brand. She has also modeled for Lancôme since 2011 and has launched several fragrances and cosmetics for the French company. In addition, she has collaborated with ethical clothing brand People Tree to create a line of fair trade and organic clothing for young women.
Watson is also known for her activism and advocacy for various causes. She is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2014 and has been promoting gender equality and women’s rights around the world. She launched the HeForShe campaign, which invites men and boys to join the movement for gender equality. She has also spoken at the UN General Assembly and the World Economic Forum about the importance of education and empowerment for girls and women.
Watson is also passionate about environmental and social issues. She is a supporter of Greenpeace and has campaigned against climate change and animal cruelty. She is also a patron of Camfed, an organization that provides education for girls in rural Africa. In 2018, she became a founding member of Time’s Up UK, a movement that addresses sexual harassment and discrimination in the entertainment industry. In 2019, she was appointed to a G7 advisory body for women’s rights, where she consulted with leaders on foreign policy. In 2020, she joined the board of directors of Kering, a luxury brand group, where she advocates for sustainable fashion. In 2023, she launched Renais, a gin brand that she co-founded with her brother Alex. The gin was inspired by the wine region of Chablis, where her family has been making wine for 30 years.
Emma Watson’s Net Worth and Personal Life
Watson is wealthy from acting and modeling. Her anticipated 2023 net worth is $85 million. About $15 million each picture is her pay. She makes money via endorsements and other businesses.
Watson is unmarried and has denied dating rumors. Tom Felton, Will Adamowicz, Matthew Janney, and Chord Overstreet were among her celebrity partners. She says she wants to keep her personal life private and seldom uses social media.
Watson has won several cinema and fashion honors. She has won three MTV Movie Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, a Young Artist Award, a National Movie Award, a People’s Choice Award, and a Britannia. Her nominations include four BAFTAs, two Golden Globes, and one Oscar. In 2015, Time named her one of the 100 most influential individuals worldwide. Forbes and Vanity Fair list her among the highest-paid actresses.
Watson is one of the most revered celebrities of her time. The brilliant actress and model is also a committed activist and humanitarian. She has inspired millions with her fame and money. She inspires young women to follow their aspirations and speak up.
