The Untold Truth Of Emma Watson

There's no doubt that Emma Watson can consider herself a success when it comes to her on-screen career. Along with first finding fame as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" films when she was still just a child, she went on to appear in other popular movies, like 2012's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," 2017's "Beauty and the Beast," and 2019's "Little Women." Thanks to her work, the star has taken home multiple industry honors over the years, per IMDb, including MTV Movie + TV Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and People's Choice Awards.

However, after making her way to the A-list, a rumor started circulating that Watson was retiring from her acting career so that she could focus more on her personal life. Although she could definitely move on and be satisfied with the earlier chapters of her life, her manager at Untitled Entertainment, Jason Weinberg, addressed the situation in a 2021 statement to Entertainment Weekly, saying, "Emma's social media accounts are dormant but her career isn't."

That's surely a relief to all of Watson's fans. This means that they'll hopefully be able to look forward to even more varied, intriguing, and entertaining performances from the talented actor. Beyond that, the fact that Watson plans to continue to work in the spotlight might mean that fans will also continue to find out interesting tidbits of info about this particular figure. For instance, check out some untold truths that you might not have been aware of when it comes to Emma Watson.

You may think of Emma Watson as an English actor — frankly, she was even named one of the best British actors around by Heart, along with Kate Winslet, Colin Firth, and fellow "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe. However, it turns out that Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson was actually born on April 15, 1990, in Paris and lived in France until she was five years old, according to IMDb. Granted, she was born to British parents, which is why when they split up, her mother, Jacqueline Luesby, returned to the U.K. with her daughter.

While Watson may have originally left France behind as a child, she apparently "always feels at home whenever she returns to" Paris, telling Eurostar's Metropolitan Magazine (via Hollywood.com), "I always get this wave of nostalgia that washes over me whenever I arrive at the Gare du Nord (train station). I feel like I'm in sync here with the culture, the art, the music. And what I wouldn't do for a warm baguette!"

Granted, while the Mirror claimed that Watson "speaks fluent French," she still says she has some work to do in that area. At the time, Watson was still struggling with the language somewhat. She admitted to Metropolitan Magazine in 2017, "I always make the same New Year's resolution: to speak French fluently as soon as possible." While Watson may not be completely fluent, she definitely puts what French she knows to good use when she gets the chance.

Emma Watson's love of France is surely one of the reasons why she decided to return to the country where she was born in 2008 to buy herself a chalet in Meribel. Where (and what) is Meribel? SeeMeribel.com explains that it is "a renowned ski resort" that's "nestled in the beautiful Alpine valley of Les Allues." Costing Watson a cool £1 million at the time, according to The Telegraph, Theo Camfferman of Leggett Immobilier in Meribel told the Mirror that the chalet is "in a very sought-after location in Meribel, which is prized by celebrities and the wealthy because it is very private." Beyond Watson, famous figures like Prince William, the Middleton family, and the Beckhams might be spotted in the area.

When Watson snapped up the property, her friend told The Telegraph, "The house is Emma's way of celebrating ... finally getting her hands on some of her hard-earned cash. She worked really hard this year and didn't have much of a birthday party so this was her present to herself."

Although buying a chalet is a pretty nice birthday present (to say the least), it was also a good investment for the financially-savvy star. That's because the Mirror noted that she eventually sold the impressive abode in 2015. Why would Watson give up such an amazing home? Well, when she sold the chalet, she made an impressive £3 million profit in the process. Magnifique, madame!

Emma Watson was only 10 years old when the first "Harry Potter" movie started filming, according to Us Weekly. While it was her very first professional gig, per IMDb, she had already been through a lot before she had even landed the coveted and career-making role. Although it's not unusual to have to audition more than once to score a highly sought-after gig in the entertainment industry, Watson had to try out more times than you could likely imagine before she was given the part of Hermione Granger.

"I was crazy. I did eight auditions, and I would literally sit by the telephone in my house and wait for each call," Watson recalled while talking to W magazine in 2013. It wasn't until the ninth audition that she was told by David Heyman, the movie's producer, that she was apparently the "preferred candidate" when it came to the many young performers who were vying for the job. While that could have been beyond nerve-wracking, things moved quickly from there.

Watson added, "Before I could obsess over what 'preferred' meant, they took a photograph of Daniel Radcliffe [who played the main character], Rupert Grint [a.k.a. Ron Weasley], and me, and it was broadcast on the Internet that we had been cast in 'Harry Potter.'" The actor added, "By the time I got back to my house, there was press waiting outside." That's why her family "moved straight into a hotel." And from there, a star was born.

As fans of Emma Watson will likely be well aware, the star appeared in 2017's live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast." She starred in the beloved fairytale story as the main character, Belle, who is an independent, free-thinking, book-loving young woman. Indeed, Glamour notes that "Watson's version of Belle is progressive," and while the character "has always been considered a feminist character," the actor apparently "worked overtime" with director Bill Condon "to make sure this princess packed a punch."

However, it turns out that Belle wasn't the first Disney character that Watson had the opportunity to play. She told Total Film (via Grazia) that she once "turned down Cinderella." For those interested, Lily James ended up playing the lead alongside Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and Stellan Skarsgård, as well as Richard Madden as the prince, in the 2015 film, which was directed by Kenneth Branagh, per IMDb.

As for Watson, although she "didn't know they were going to make 'Beauty and the Beast'" when she said no to the part of Cinderella — meaning that she didn't turn down the first role specifically for the second — when she was offered the role of Belle, she snapped it up. The actor explained, "I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did. She remains curious, compassionate, and open-minded. And that's the kind of woman I would want to embody as a role model, given the choice."

Emma Watson may be a famous actor, however, she was also a super smart student. As a child, she attended the Dragon School in Oxfordshire before heading to Headington School, which is a private school for girls, per IMDb. She also spent time at Stagecoach Theatre Arts in order to study her chosen craft along with singing and dancing. That's right, Watson was still just a kid when she decided that she wanted to pursue acting. Of course, her normal educational path was somewhat interrupted when she landed her role with the "Harry Potter" franchise.

The Mirror notes that Watson "juggled schoolwork with filming" and did so with "a private tutor" who "was on set to give her lessons between her breaks." She did still go into school for one day a week while also being "sent homework by her school teachers each Friday," which would be "couriered back for marking." Her "Harry Potter" co-star, Rupert Grint, once opened up about studying with Watson, telling "Happy Sad Confused" (via Bustle), "I was schooled with Emma. She's pretty smart." He then added, "She's just not supposed to be that smart [at that age]."

Watson may have been smart beyond her years, but that's what eventually helped her get into an Ivy League school. She attended Brown University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English literature in 2014, according to E!. Beyond that, the outlet noted that she "also studied at England's Oxford University and continued to make movies while pursuing her degree."

Did you know that Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has ADHD? According to WebMD, the incredibly accomplished athlete has addressed having what the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention explains "is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood." The CDC also notes that those "with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active." Per Healthline, around 4% of adults in the United States "deal with ADHD on a daily basis" (apparently, 4.2% of women are given an ADHD diagnosis, while that number sits at 13% for men). That means Biles is far from being alone. Other celebrities with ADHD include Michael Phelps, Paris Hilton, Adam Levine, and reportedly Emma Watson.

"While Emma hasn't spoken openly about the condition," according to Pop Sugar, she was apparently "diagnosed with combined/hyperactive type ADHD." Indeed, the ADHD Foundation revealed in a Facebook post that the star was reportedly "diagnosed with ADHD as a young child and was medicated throughout the filming of 'Harry Potter.'" IMDb added that she's allegedly "been taking Ritalin for it since childhood."

Fans of the successful star seemed to be impressed and encouraged by the fact that Watson apparently has ADHD, taking to Facebook to comment by writing, "Wow, I never knew that, that's brilliant." Another added, "I'm proud to be like her." Yet another person noted that "it really helps to have successful recognizable role models for our ADHD kids to look up to!"

If you're a fan of Sophie Sumner, then you likely first found out about her when she became the Cycle 5 runner-up of Britain's "Next Top Model" in 2009. Granted, you might have also discovered her a few years later in 2012, when she won Cycle 18 of "America's Next Top Model." From there, Sumner dipped her toe into the acting side of the entertainment industry by appearing in 2012's "Cocktail," 2015's "Spicy Tuna," and "Killington," which is in post-production at the time of this writing, per IMDb. However, IMDb also notes that before Sumner found fame, she was friends with none other than Emma Watson.

Vogue even reported that the model was spotted with her "close friend" at Coachella in 2012. "We went to school together," Sumner said while opening up about her celebrity buddy. In fact, the two lived together in London, which was just before Sumner supported her former roomie by putting her future professional skills to good use, with the Oxford Mail explaining that "modeling your flatmate's clothes does not usually get your face splashed across the national magazines — unless that friend is 'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson," and adding that Sumner "is officially modeling the designs by the actress."

Obviously good friends, Sumner also told Vogue, "I'm really lucky to have someone who understands it all. She's given me some amazing advice since all this [fame and success] started." It surely must be nice to have a famous friend to help show you the ropes.

Emma Watson has supported many worthy causes, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Small Steps Project, and the Justice and Equality Fund, according to Look to the Stars. On top of that, in 2014, she became a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. The UN Women's website explained that Watson would "dedicate her efforts towards the empowerment of young women and will serve as an advocate for UN Women's HeForShe campaign in promoting gender equality."

The star opened up about her role, saying, "Being asked to serve as UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador is truly humbling." She went on to note that the "chance to make a real difference is not an opportunity that everyone is given" and was one that she had "no intention of taking lightly." Watson added, "Women's rights are something so inextricably linked with who I am, so deeply personal and rooted in my life that I can't imagine an opportunity more exciting. I still have so much to learn, but as I progress I hope to bring more of my individual knowledge, experience, and awareness to this role."

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who was the UN Women under-secretary-general and executive director when Waston was made a UN Ambassador, also talked about the star's role, per The Guardian. "The engagement of young people is critical for the advancement of gender equality in the 21st century," she said, adding that she was "convinced that Emma's intellect and passion will enable UN Women's messages to reach the hearts and minds of young people globally."

Emma Watson may be used to being in front of the camera when it comes to her professional life — however, she was also willing to take legal action when her personal photos were stolen and posted online, according to the BBC.

The Hollywood Reporter pointed out a series of incidents around 2014 involving the theft of personal images, noting that celebrities like Mischa Barton, Lucy Hale, Gabrielle Union, and Jennifer Lawrence had been swept up in situations related to hacks and stolen pics. In fact, "two men were sentenced in connection with [the] crime" involving the latter actors, which resulted in the allegedly guilty "men ... facing up to five years in prison," yet they were "sentenced to nine and 18 months." The BBC reported that, around the same time, Watson also faced a leak of supposed revealing photos. However, she apparently explained, "I knew it was a hoax, I knew the pictures didn't exist. The minute I stepped up and talked about women's rights I was immediately threatened — within less than 12 hours [of my UN speech] I was receiving threats."

In 2017, when personal photos of Watson did end up online, her publicist addressed the situation, saying, "Photos from a clothes fitting Emma had with a stylist a couple of years ago have been stolen. They are not nude photographs. Lawyers have been instructed and we are not commenting further."

If you've ever admired Emma Watson's style, then you'll likely know that her outward evolution has spanned "from Hogwarts to Haute Couture," as Vogue notes. Along the way, the star also used her stylish ways and strong beliefs to help her move over into the world of fashion.

In 2009, Watson first teamed up with People Tree, "an ethical fashion label," according to The Guardian. The star stepped in as a creative advisor to help put together a line that offered pieces for both men and women. "I was excited by the idea of using fashion as a tool to alleviate poverty and knew it was something I could help make a difference with," she said. Adding that she felt like people her age "are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian and environmental issues surrounding fast fashion and want to make good choices," the star also admitted that "there aren't many options out there."

Luckily for those who want to be both stylish and support worthy causes, Watson and People Tree collaborated a few more times over the years, creating a total of three lines together, per Fashion. The third line saw the actor traveling to get a closer look at what she was involved in. "I visited Bangladesh to see the clothing actually being made and meet the people making it," Watson said in 2011. "It was an incredible and life-changing experience — I really wish everyone had the chance to see the difference Fair Trade makes with their own eyes."

Emma Watson happens to be a book-lover and is the kind of person who likes to share her passion with her fans. That's perhaps one of the reasons why she has been known to lead book hunts around the world. Back in 2017, the star first teamed up with The Book Fairies to leave copies of books in New York City with a nod to International Women's Day, according to E!. She tweeted about the endeavor, popping up a photo of herself in a red beret and writing, "Today I'm a red-striking ninja book-fairy out to spread some wise women's words."

Watson even shared glimpses of her efforts on Twitter, posting a video of herself tucking books into a special spot for lucky individuals to find and writing, "Dropping off books at Gertrude Stein statue in NYC." The star's efforts were clearly appreciated, with one fan tweeting, "You can't imagine how much I admire your involvement in these causes."

The fact that the project was so well-received may be why Watson led another book hunt in 2019. This time, she gave away copies of "Little Women," which was also a movie that she starred in. "I'm excited to reveal a global effort with @bookfairiesworldwide to hide 2,000 copies of 'Little Women!' ... every one of which has a special note from me inside," she shared on Instagram. Revealing that "38 countries [were] involved in the campaign," she announced that it was "the largest book fairy event ever."

There are a number of stars who have regular jobs on the side, but can you imagine showing up to a yoga class and finding out that Emma Watson is your teacher? While the star hasn't announced a yoga studio tour (yet?), it turns out that she is a certified yoga instructor, according to ABC News.

Feeling somewhat adrift and unsure about her future back in 2013 — not even knowing if she wanted to settle down "in New York or in LA or wherever else" — Watson explained to Elle Australia (via ABC News), "I was like 'I need to find a way to always feel safe and at home within myself.' Because I can never rely on a physical place." Instead of grounding herself by snapping up a few properties in whichever cities her heart desired, ABC News noted that the actor worked toward a certification that would allow her to lead both yoga and mediation, something that she apparently claims "anchors her crazy life."

A "board two-certified, qualified yoga instructor" at the time, per Digital Spy, Watson was still working on further certification in 2015. "I'm a massive, massive, massive yoga fan and person, and I've been trying to, for a couple of years now, finish my yoga certification so that I can teach, which is very exciting," she said. "As part of that certification, I went and did a week of meditation teaching, which was amazing and a super, super, super great experience."

Thanks to the fact that Emma Watson starred in one of the most successful film franchises around and scored her enviable (and lucrative) role when she was still a child, the actor is rich and has been for quite a while. "Let's be honest, I have enough money never to have to work again," she explained back in 2009 when she was just 18 years old, according to Express.

Yet, when Watson was bringing in a fortune as a child, her parents seemingly kept her grounded by simply giving her a $75-per-week allowance (which is a pretty decent budget for many teens, but relatively modest for a young millionaire). Eventually, at 17 years old, Watson and her dad had a "money conversation." She explained to British Vogue (via People), "By the third or fourth ['Harry Potter'] film, the money was starting to get serious." When she found out about just how big her fortune was, she admitted, "I had no idea. I felt sick, very emotional."

That kind of reaction is understandable when you consider the fact that, as Us Weekly noted, Watson even made her way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for being the highest-grossing female actor of the '00s. Apparently, in the span of just 10 years, she helped to bring in a whopping "$5.4 billion in global box office receipts." As for Watson herself, according to Celebrity Net Worth, the star has a fortune that sits at $85 million.

There are quite a few reasons why writing in a journal regularly can be beneficial. The University of Rochester Medical Center explained that, along with possibly helping you "manage anxiety, reduce stress," and "cope with depression," it can also help "control your symptoms and improve your mood," because it allows you to "prioritize problems, fears, and concerns," and keep track of potential triggers and resulting symptoms. It may also give you "an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and behaviors." On top of that, it can allow you took look back at years' worth of thoughts, dreams, and memories. Just ask Emma Watson!

According to IMDb, Watson has around 30 journals that span years of her life. Starting not too long after her rise to stardom really took off, she eventually used her daily writing habit to inspire her when it came to what she had to say as an ambassador with the UN. "They said, 'We'd like you to make a speech.' I thought, 'Oh, god.' I must have spent six months writing it, from journal entries that I'd been keeping since I was 12 or 13," the actor said while opening up to Interview in 2017.

Wouldn't you just love to get a look at those journals (with Watson's permission, of course) and discover what kind of Hollywood-worthy stories, whimsical musings, and inspiring statements they hold? You're surely not alone!