Emma Watson says she doesn’t miss the soul-destroying side of Hollywood, but she misses the art
In a People interview, the actor reflects on fame, promotion, and the possibility of returning to film with a renewed focus on craft
Emma Watson has been candid about what she misses and doesn’t miss about Hollywood as she steps back from regular on-screen work. In a recent discussion with People magazine, the 35-year-old star of the Harry Potter franchise described the promotional machine surrounding major films as a part of the job that can feel “soul-destroying.” “I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying,” Watson said, reflecting on a career that began when she was 11 years old and grew into a global brand long before she reached adulthood.
Watson acknowledged that while certain aspects of acting were extraordinary, the promotional weight that comes with every project often overshadowed the craft itself. She noted that the work she loves is the creative act—the acting and storytelling—rather than the relentless messaging that accompanies a movie’s release. "I do very much miss using my skill set, and I very much miss the art," she added. "I just found I got to do so little of the bit that I actually enjoyed."
The actor’s reflections come after a career that has included iconic roles from Hermione Granger in eight Harry Potter films to Belle in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and Meg March in the 2019 adaptation of Little Women. Although she has stepped back from continuous screen work, Watson emphasized that the pull to act remains—and that she simply wants to participate in projects that allow her to engage deeply with the material. "But I do very much miss using my skill set, and I very much miss the art," she said. "I just found I got to do so little of the bit that I actually enjoyed."
Watson also described the life of a public figure as a process of managing multiple identities. She characterized the public persona surrounding a film as something that requires "constant feeding and sprucing and glamorizing," a dynamic she said can be energy-intensive. "It’s very energy-intensive stuff. And shedding the multiple identities has freed up so much space, I think, for me to be a better sister, daughter, friend, granddaughter and then artist," she explained, adding that the shift has allowed her to engage with the world and with critical thinking in a more authentic way.
The People interview also touched on Watson’s long-running friendships that have endured beyond the camera. In October 2022, her Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton published a memoir, Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, with Watson penning the foreword. In the foreword, Watson described their bond in deeply affectionate terms and conveyed a sense of a lasting, special connection. "You know that person in your life who makes you feel seen? That person who is somehow a witness to all that unfolds? That person who knows—really knows—what is happening to you and what you're going through, without anything having to be said? For me, that person is Tom Felton," she wrote, portraying their friendship as one of the purest loves she can recall.
The conversation also reflected the arc of Watson’s career after the Hogwarts era. Her most recent widely released feature was the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, in which she played Meg March, a role that highlighted her sustained interest in literature-adjacent storytelling. While she hasn’t ruled out returning to the screen, Watson signaled that any future acting would be guided by a thoughtful selection of projects that offer genuine artistic resonance rather than broad commercial exposure.
As fans and industry observers await her next steps, Watson’s perspective underscores a broader conversation in culture and entertainment about the tension between acting as an art form and the mechanics of fame. Her openness about the pressures of promotion and the desire to focus on the craft may influence conversations about how studios market projects and how actors navigate public life while sustaining creative integrity. For Watson, the balance seems to be shifting toward prioritizing time for family, friends, and critical thinking, while keeping a future door open to roles that align with her evolving artistic standards.
