Emma Watson just doesn’t jump into a role unless she fully gets to understand and transform into a character. Watson has been on a hiatus from films for a long time but fans are still ready to go watch her back on screen anytime. The Harry Potter star famously turned down Emma Stone’s Oscar-winning role of Mia in La La Land.
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in Beauty and The Beast | Credits: Walt Disney Pictures
Watson revealed that she couldn’t accept the offer for the film as she was already committed to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Watson just had a lot to do to prepare for her role as Belle and committing to Damien Chazelle’s musical was never an option for her.
Emma Watson’s Hermione-Level Preparations Stopped Her From Taking An Oscar-winning Role
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in a still from La La Land | Credits: Summit Entertainment
La La Land is considered as one of the best musical films of the modern era. Emma Stone bagged the Best Actress Oscar for her role opposite Ryan Gosling in the film. However, Emma Watson came very close to starring opposite Gosling as the producers approached her to play Mia. Watson turned down the role due to a very convincing reason.
During an interview with SiriusXM, presented by EW, Watson revealed that she did not commit to the project due to scheduling conflicts. The Harry Potter star revealed that her name was sort of attached to La La Land before anything was set in stone. Watson shared that publications attached her name to the film to build anticipation and excitement.
However, she added that she just couldn’t walk into the film. Watson was preparing for her role as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at the time. For the live-action remake of the 1991 animated film, Watson put in some Hermione-level preparations. She shared that she had to undergo horse training and take dancing and singing lessons for the role.
Watson added that she had to do the work for the film and could not just walk into the film. She added that the preparations meant she would encounter scheduling conflicts if she committed to the Ryan Gosling film. Watson shared with SiriusXM (via EW):
I knew I had horse training, I knew I had dancing, I knew I had three months of singing ahead of me, and I knew I had to be in London to really do that. And this wasn’t a movie I could just walk into. I knew I had to do the work and be where I needed to be. So schedule conflicts simply did not work out.
Besides Beauty and the Beast, Watson’s popular post-Harry Potter films included The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring, Noah, and Little Women. She is currently on an acting hiatus and shared that she would absolutely return to acting but was happy to sit and wait for the next right role (via Variety).
Harry Potter Was Not Smooth Sailing For Emma Watson
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Credits: Warner Bros.
Emma Watson played Hermione Granger for more than a decade and gained huge fame from her role. She opened up about her experience since Harry Potter during an interview with British Vogue. She shared that she had to go to therapy to sort out some of the issues she faced right off the fame.
She added that she had thoughts and feelings of guilt about her global fame. Watson shared with British Vogue:
I’ve sat in therapy and felt really guilty about it. I’m like, why me? Somebody else would have enjoyed and wanted this aspect of it more than I did. And I’ve struggled a lot with the guilt around that. I’m like, I should be enjoying this a lot more, I should be more excited and I’m actually really struggling.
Outside of her acting career, Emma Watson is known for activism. She helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe as the Goodwill Ambassador of the international organization. She was part of a G7 advisory body for women’s rights. She is also an avid promoter of sustainable fashion.
La La Land is now available for streaming on Netflix, while Beauty and the Beast is now available on Disney+.
