When J.K. Rowling introduced Hermione Granger 19 years ago, the world immediately fell in love. We then became enchanted with the girl who brought our beloved, know-it-all witch to life, Emma Watson. Millions of young girls have watched Watson embody her character’s intelligence and fiery passion on and off screen. Most recently, Watson partnered with Books on the Underground, a community project that hides free books around London’s tube network, to place 100 free copies of her book club November pick, Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Mom around unexpected spots in the terminals. Check out these other reasons we’re so obsessed with the live-action Disney Star. I mean, have you see that “Beauty and the Beast” trailer?
1. Who run the world? It’s going to be equally girls and boys one day.
Hermione always acted as guardian for the underprivileged or disrespected magical creatures of the Wizarding World, and Emma Watson quickly followed suit by becoming a diligent activist of gender equality. After being appointed the U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, Watson began heavily advocating for the HeForShe campaign.The actress works tirelessly to help women achieve equal rights, pay and overall gender equality while trying to disprove the common feminist stereotypes. During one of her speeches at the U.N. in 2015, she proposed that educating boys on the ill-conceived notions concerning gender roles while they’re young could shift the tide on inequality completely.
2. Emma With the Good Hair
Emma Watson is fearless when it comes to acting, expressing her opinions and…haircuts? After wrapping up filming for the last “Harry Potter” film in 2010, Watson desired a change to mark her transition into the new chapter of her life and chose to chop off her locks for a pixie cut. She said in an interview with Glamour UK that her short hair resulted in a level of confidence she had never felt before, and therefore didn’t care what others thought of it. This is just one of the many instances where Watson openly supports the self-love initiative that teaches young girls to be comfortable in their own skin. One of her most famous quotes on the issue goes: “I keep telling myself that I’m a human being who’s not made to look like a doll, and that who I am as a person is more important than whether at that moment I have a nice figure.”
3. So Many Books, So Little Time
Earlier this year Watson founded her openly feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf, with the intention to increase discussion about books authored only by women, which explore gender equality around the world and throughout time. According to goodreads.com, there are 146,957 members who participate online. The selected books vary from My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem, to classics such as The Color Purple by Alice Walker and revolutionary novels, namely the critically acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips, The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
4. All She Does is Read, Read, Read
Emma Watson is basically Hermione Granger. Despite the actress’s efforts to establish a separate name from her “Harry Potter” role, there is no doubt that she was born to play Hermione. Watson admitted to being an avid reader as a child and earned straight A’s in school. She chose to continue her education by attending Brown University, which included a year spent studying abroad at Oxford University. Watson, who earned $60 million over the course of her child acting years, proved to the world that sometimes learning for the sake of learning is one of life’s simple pleasures.
5. Expecto Patron-ohmmm?
Amongst her crazy movie star-turned-activist schedule, Watson uses yoga to keep her mind at peace and life balanced. Watson became a certified yoga and meditation instructor in 2013, during the years spent trying to transition her career away from Harry Potter and into more serious acting roles in both indie and modern blockbuster films. Perhaps one day, our dreams will come true and Watson will teach a Harry Potter themed yoga class, a recent fad that is gaining popularity.
6. Feminists Have More Fun
There are a plethora of Emma Watson certified one liners on feminism to choose from that can improve any girl’s day. The actress continues to be fully committed to ending gender inequality and enforcing that fact that feminism does not insinuate man-hating, but rather a belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. She stands up for what she believes in and inspires young girls and women across the globe to do the same. “Young girls are told you have to be a delicate princess. Hermione taught them that you can be the warrior,” she said.
Emma Watson will forever be remembered for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” movie series. Yet, more importantly her efforts to end gender inequality and inspire young girls everywhere to follow their dreams will have everlasting effects. In other match-made-in-heaven casting news, Watson will be starring as Belle, the bookworm princess, in Disney’s live-action version the classic “Beauty and the Beast,” coming to theaters March 17, 2017.