I’ve been anticipating Emma Watson’s July Vogue cover since I read about it at Fashionista.com last week, so when I spotted the issue yesterday at the grocery checkout I grabbed it and nearly squealed with delight. After a series of disappointing covers, Vogue presents a darkly dramatic Emma with blood red glossy lips and darkened slicked back hair and eyebrows. She looks a bit like a gorgeous vampire in a stunning Prada paillette dress. The cover, shot by Mario Testino, is oddly Christmas-y for July but I’ll take it, as cranberry red always has a pleasing visceral effect on me.
The profile by Amanda Foreman called Emma’s New Day reveals how Emma has spent the last half of her life (since she was picked to play Hermione Grainger at age 9) ensconced in the surreal Harry Potter world which filmed in a converted factory outside London. I had no idea how all-encompassing working as an actor in the J.K. Rowling franchise was for Emma and her co-stars: filming and promoting the movies took the place of a normal life:
“I have had no control over my life,” Emma told Vogue. “I have lived in a complete bubble. They found me and picked me for the part. And now I’m desperately trying to find my way through it.”
A certain defiance about Emma’s character is what endears her to me. The fight in her showed itself when she cut her hair the moment filming ended on the last instalment of the Harry Potter series. Before that, she refused to sign on to film the last two movies unless schedules were changed to allow her to go to university.
“I was Warner Brothers’ pain in the butt. I was their scheduling conflict. I was the one who made life difficult.”
Although the franchise has deprived her of a normal life, and perhaps because of that, Emma is determined to discover what kind of artist she wants to be (she also paints and has been involved in ethical fashion design projects for People Tree and Alberta Ferretti). The knowledge that she can’t be happy going along with what others expect and that her life must have a purpose true to her is something most women don’t think about until they’re much older, if ever. The gift of the Harry Potter franchise is that at age 21, Emma can say:
“I am going to do what I want to do. I’m going to be who I really am. I’m going to figure out what that is.”
We can’t wait to see!
What do you think Emma’s next move will be?
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Uhm, I wish I was this kind of “deprived of normal life” – get a chance to be in a movie, have financial freedom before turning 21 and getting so many opportunities in so many areas of life including fashion, covers of Vogue etc etc etc. And she wouldn’t be able to say any of this if she was just a regular 21-year old girl. Really don’t like it when celebrities complain and say how they suffer from living the way they live. Oh poor little Emma lost in the celebrity bubble world…
Mmm, I understand what you’re saying. I do appreciate how honest she is about her true feelings.
I can see what you mean by Christmassy, she looks beautiful. perhaps she will set up her own ethical fashion line or shop, I wish!
She seems pretty passionate about eco-fashion and fair trade so I’m sure she’ll continue on that path.
Do you know I’ve watched none of the Potter films, but she is a beautiful and fresh face!
Terr, I’ve only seen a few of the films because my daughters are obsessed with them. We’ll be at the last instalment on opening night for certain
My little sister loves the movies and the books, but I haven’t seen or read any of them.
“Before that, she refused to sign on to film the last two movies unless schedules were changed to allow her to go to university.”
I like that! Go Emma.
And imagine having to fight for the right to go to university! Crazy.