Emma Watson Interview: Harry Potter Star Opens Up About Portraying Hermione and Her Struggle with Identity

In a 2015 interview with Porter magazine, Emma Watson revealed that playing Hermione Granger for over a decade had a profound impact on her personal growth. At just 9 years old when she was cast in the first Harry Potter movie, The Sorcerer's Stone, Watson spent more than half of her life pretending to be someone else.

Watson shared how being Hermione affected and perhaps stunted her own personal growth. While she poured her heart and soul into portraying the character, it sometimes came at the cost of her own identity. 'I was figuring out who Hermione was and how best to portray her,' Watson said.

From there, she went on to portray the scholarly wizard for the entirety of the Harry Potter series. However, this also meant that she struggled to adjust to life outside of the film series. Watson initially found it harder than she might have imagined to navigate her new identity. 'There were times when it felt very lonely, moving to the other side of the world, to where I had no support, when I was on the side of buses everywhere,' Emma said.

Watson's journey towards self-discovery was not an easy one. She revealed that she used to have to go numb and close herself off just to get through it. 'I spent most of my time trying to convince everyone I was incredibly boring because I needed privacy and a minute to figure myself out,' Watson shared.

The attention she received as one of Hollywood's most famous child stars was also overwhelming for her at such a young age. At 9 years old, Emma went from being a normal kid to an overnight sensation when she took the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise.

Watson's struggles with identity were exacerbated by the microscope she was under as a young person. 'I felt so inadequate because I just didn't have answers yet,' Watson told Porter magazine. The level of questioning she faced, coming at such a young age, made it even more challenging for her to find her footing.

However, attending Brown University in 2009 marked a turning point for Watson. It gave her the space and time to figure out who she was outside of Hermione Granger's shadow. 'I'm so glad I did, it was the best thing I could have done, putting myself in that furnace,' Emma said.

In conclusion, Emma Watson's journey towards self-discovery was not an easy one, but it is a testament to her resilience and determination to find her true identity.

Emma watson interview harry potter