Emma Watson probably has the biggest fan base out of the young Harry Potter actors and she’s inspired thousands proving that you don’t need to live a controversial life in order to stay in the spotlight (I’m looking at you, Hannah Montana Miley Cirus!).
Her appointment as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador brought her even more admiration when it happened, proving that she’s literally a great person, but truth be told, she never really left the public eye. So let’s celebrate her brilliance and charm with 20 things you probably didn’t know about Emma Watson!
1. She’s a French lady
You might love that British accent, among other things, but the truth is that Emma was born and raised (partially) in France. In Paris, more exactly, where she lived until she was five, before moving to England after her parents divorced.
2. Emma is a breakdancer
She loves dancing and she took classes in a multitude of genres, including modern and break dancing. Who would’ve thought? Bonus: she’s also a certified Yoga teacher. Hmm… that’s two-in-one in terms of things you didn’t know about her!
3. Her favorite food is…
Strawberries with Nutella. A genius combination.
4. She’s the Highest Grossing Actress
According to the Guiness Book of Records, that is. In February 2010, she was officially proclaimed Hollywood’s highest paid female star as she earned about $15 million for each Harry Potter movie she was in.
This allows her to live in a $15.5 million, 3.600 square foot penthouse in New York… so, yeah, she might be a bit richer than you thought.
5. Her lucky charm
She still has a wishbone her father gave her when she auditioned for Hermione. She keeps it in her jewelry box and is one of her most prized possessions (proving that things with a sentimental value matter the most in life even when you are a millionaire)
6. Youngest Vogue Cover
When she was featured on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine in 2005, she was only 15, which made her the youngest star, at that time, to grace Vogue’s cover.
7. She missed the Oscars after party in 2014
She simply fell asleep in her hotel room and when she woke up, she decided that it was too late to make it to the party so instead she ordered pizza and spent the night in. Really cool!
8. She had a crush on Tom Felton, who refused her
According to Emma, between 10 and 12 years old she had a “major crush” on Tom Felton (Drako Malfoy in the movies), because he was the bad guy, he was older and he had a skateboard. And even though Tom knew about this, he turned her down saying that she think of her as a younger sister. Take that, friendzoning!
9. She’s a real life Hermione
…without the spells, probably. However, she’s extremely clever and a really hard working girl, holding a degree in English Literature. Even when filming for Harry Potter, she made sure to dedicate a few hours per day to studying.
10. She’s a talented painter
Not only that she’s smart, rich, a great actress and model, but she’s also a great painter. Even though many would wonder when she finds time for everything, she does: her latest work, an self-portrait, received praise from art critics, such as her previous works that she has at home.
11. She’s not tall
It seems to me that all great Hollywood actors are short. She’s one that’s not too tall either, at just 5’5 (165 cm).
12. She likes bad boys
Apparently, it is the bad boy type that she enjoys the most. Except from her crush on Drako who was the bad boy and had a skateboard, she also dated a rugby player, Matthew Janney as well as another rugby player, Tom Ducker.
13. She loves tattoos
It was recently revealed that she has a tattoo under her belly button, a string of stars pointing… downwards. So Emma might not be the shy girl we all believe she is.
14. She almost left Harry Potter
After the Goblet Of Fire, Emma Watson was close to quit the series and acting completely because she claimed that it didn’t allow her to have a normal teenager’s life. We’re certainly glad she didn’t do it in the end!
15. She graduated from Brown University
In 2014, Emma earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Brown University in the United States. She managed to juggle her studies with her acting career, proving that she values education as much as fame.
16. She helped design a sustainable fashion line
Emma collaborated with the ethical fashion brand People Tree to create a clothing line that promoted fair trade and sustainability. Later, she also worked with Kering and Good On You to advocate for responsible fashion choices.
17. She became a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014
As part of her role, she helped launch the HeForShe campaign — a global initiative promoting gender equality and encouraging men to support women’s rights. Her powerful speech at the UN headquarters went viral and made her one of the most respected voices in modern feminism.
18. She loves reading and started a feminist book club
In 2016, she launched an online feminist book club called Our Shared Shelf on Goodreads, where she shared and discussed inspiring books by female authors with millions of followers.
19. She once hid feminist books in public places
Emma became known for secretly placing books in places like the London Underground or New York subway as part of Books on the Underground. Each book carried a handwritten note from her, inviting the finder to read and share it.
20. She took a break from acting to focus on self-growth
In 2019, Emma announced she was taking a step back from acting to focus on personal development and activism. She described herself as being “self-partnered” instead of single, a phrase that quickly went viral and redefined how many people viewed independence and relationships.
So these are the 20 things you might not have known about Emma Watson. It’s always nice to know that things are always more complex and complicated than they seem to be.