Additional Coverage:
- Emma Watson admits Hollywood ‘broke me’ after years in supportive Harry Potter community (foxnews.com)
Emma Watson Reflects on Hollywood’s Demands, Citing “Harry Potter” Experience as a Formative Influence
Actress Emma Watson is opening up about how her extensive experience filming the “Harry Potter” franchise profoundly shaped her perspective on the entertainment industry, leading to unexpected challenges in subsequent projects.
During a recent appearance on the “On Purpose” podcast with Jay Shetty, Watson, who began playing Hermione Granger at age 11 and concluded the eight-film series at 21, discussed the unique environment of the “Harry Potter” sets. “It’s so unusual to make a set of films for 12 years,” she stated.
“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 explained that the deep relationships forged over a decade of filming made the transition to other sets “bone-breakingly painful.” She realized that “most people don’t come to those environments looking for friendships,” a stark contrast to her formative years on the wizarding world saga.
The shift prompted Watson to question her suitability for Hollywood. “I’m just not thick-skinned,” she admitted.
“Maybe I just wasn’t built for those kinds of highly competitive environments. It broke me.”
Becoming emotional, she added, “But in a way I’m proud that it did, because I guess that means I have something left to break. I have a heart left to break.”
She emphasized her preference to “keep my humanity” over developing a hardened exterior.
Beyond the on-set dynamics, Watson also revealed to People magazine that while she “really won the lottery” with acting, aspects of the job were irreconcilable for her. She specifically cited the promotional demands associated with films.
“A bigger component than the actual job itself is the promotion and selling of that piece of work, this piece of art,” she explained. “The balance of that can get quite thrown off.
I think I’ll be honest and straightforward, and say: I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying.”
Following her role in the 2019 adaptation of “Little Women,” Watson opted to step away from acting. Her co-star Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, previously disclosed during the “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” special that Watson had considered leaving the franchise after the fourth film.
Watson confirmed her apprehension at the time, telling Grint, “I think I was scared… I don’t know if you ever felt like it got to a tipping point where you were like, this is kind of forever now.”
Watson, Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter, starred together in all eight films of the beloved series.