It has been seven years since Emma Watson was last seen on the big screen, and she’s in no hurry to return, so it looks like we’re just going to have to enjoy her previous work.
It is seven years since Emma Watson last appeared in a movie and, while her legions of fans have missed her presence on screen, it appears that the English actress, 35, has not missed the acting business during this time.
In a recent interview with Hollywood Authentic, Emma said that while she misses acting “profoundly” she didn’t miss all the things that go along with appearing in a movie, such as the grind of promoting it after it has been made.
Since leaving acting, she has been busy, including campaigning for climate change mitigation, studying for an MSt in creative writing at Oxford University and running a sustainable gin brand alongside her brother.
So, with no new movies starring Emma to enjoy any time soon, it is a good job she has a range of iconic roles already we can re-watch. Here are some of the best.
Little Women
Emma starred in Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcottt as Meg March. The film was praised by critics and moviegoers alike and grossed $218 million at the worldwide box office. The movie was also nominated for six Oscars. This remains Emma’s last movie role to date.
Beauty and the Beast
Of all Disney’s live action remakes of its famous animations, 2017’s Beauty and the Beast is arguably the best, and this is in no small part down to Emma’s performance as Belle. As the lead character – and playing against a lot of CGI – she is in much of the film and carries off the iconic role with aplomb.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This 2012 coming-of-age romantic drama set in an American high school starred Emma as Sam, alongside the hero of the movie Charlie, played by Logan Lerman. The movie chronicles Charlie’s freshman year at a new school, having recently been discharged from a psychiatric hospital. He befriends Sam, and her stepbrother, Patrick. The friends grow closer – Charlie tutoring her – and they eventually kiss. But, as ever, nothing in movies is easy, and things go wrong before reaching a conclusion.
The Bling Ring
Showing her diversity, Emma starred in Sofia Coppola’s 2013 crime drama The Bling Ring. The movie follows a group of fame-obsessed teenagers who track celebrities’ whereabouts and then burgle their homes. Emma plays Nicki Moore, one of the gang who commits the burglaries against real-life celebrities. Of course, it all goes wrong – but does Nicki learn her lesson?
The Circle
This 2017 techno-thriller, directed by James Ponsoldt, starred Emma alongside Tom Hanks. It is a rare thing – a film with Emma in (and Tom Hanks) that has generally negative reviews. But maybe that means it is still worth a watch. In it, Emma plays Mae Holland, who takes a job as a customer support worker at tech company The Circle. She quickly rises up the ranks and gets involved with the tech, including carrying a camera for 24 hours a day, as well as using it to find anyone in the world within 20 minutes. But, of course, this causes problems that Mae could never have expected.
Harry Potter
There is no point singling out just one of the eight Harry Potter films that Emma starred in as Hermione Grainger. The films in which she made her name, starring in the first at the age of 11, should be watched in order. It follows the titular wizard, alongside friends Hermione and Ron Weasley, through their time at Hogwarts, and the various supernatural perils they face along the way, alongside a liberal dose of regular teenage dramas.
