Harry Potter star Emma Watson has revealed there was a point when she wanted to quit the franchise. The Harry Potter film series, based on the children’s fantasy novels written by J.K. Rowling, became a global phenomenon following the release of the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). This was followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, and Part 2. The franchise was wildly successful, and without inflation is the third-highest-grossing film series of all time, taking more than $7.7 billion at the global box office.
The series follows the story of orphaned boy wizard Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley as they face the return of the evil Lord Voldemort. Exploring themes of death, loss, corruption, prejudice and madness, the franchise continues to enjoy immense popularity today. And speaking during the upcoming Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion, which brought together 10 cast members from the movies, Watson, who played Hermione Granger in all eight films, opened up about her experiences.
As reported in Digital Spy, the French-born 31-year-old who also found fame playing Belle in the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie in 2017, was quoted as saying that she "felt scared" by her newfound fame, and director David Yates recalled how the young star had wanted to back out of the franchise as she entered her teens. Read the actress's full quotes below:
"I can see that. At times, I was lonely. I think I was scared. I don't know if you ever felt like it got to a tipping point when you were like... 'This is kind of forever now'."
It is often the case that child stars struggle with newfound fame and success, as they're often too young to deal with the life changes involved. This is one of the reasons why a lot of child actors sometimes have tumultuous off-screen lives. Being associated with something as big as Harry Potter will remain with these actors for the rest of their careers, and this is something that would no doubt have been tough to deal with at a young age. Child stars are more protected now than in the past, and having the right network around them, on and off set, can be vital in helping quell much of the fear and loneliness that Little Women star Watson mentions.
For the cast of Harry Potter, growing up in the public eye must have been very challenging, and Watson's comments make a lot of sense considering she was just 11-years-old in the first movie, which, coupled with the intense shooting schedules (eight movies filmed over a 10 year period) would only have exacerbated the situation. For Watson, who was also completing her education at the time, it must have been very challenging, and the lack of friends and a stable home would likely have made her lonely and confused. The UN Women Goodwill Ambassador appears to have taken this all in her stride, and has developed a successful career in several fields, and, whilst reports that she would be retiring from acting appear to have been premature, the Harry Potter actress could well be looking to take a bit of time away from the spotlight in the near future.
Source: Digital Spy