Emma Watson with Daniel Radcliffe (left) and Rupert Grint (right) at the premiere of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2’ in July 2011.
Watson’s life changed dramatically at age nine when she was cast as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), the first film in the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling book series. Before landing the role, she had only appeared in school plays; the Harry Potter audition process catapulted her into global fame almost overnight.
Her portrayal of the brilliant, bookish, and fiercely loyal Hermione resonated with audiences worldwide. Watson won a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor for her performance in the first film, and over the next decade she grew up on screen alongside her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley). The eight-film series, concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011, became one of the highest-grossing film franchises in history.
