Emma Watson grew up in front of the camera. From an 11-year-old girl in “Philosopher’s Stone” to a grown woman in “Deathly Hallows.” After Potter, she tried to distance herself from that role, with varying degrees of success. Some choices were brilliant (“The Bling Ring”), others less so (“Regression,” which you’ve probably never heard of).
And then she stopped, at age 31. Back to school, activism, life outside Hollywood. However, those ten years after Potter did yield a few good films.
10. Regression (2015)
Alejandro Amenábar (who made ‘The Others’) directed this thriller about Satanism in the 90s. Ethan Hawke is the detective, Watson the teenager who claims to have been abused by a satanic cult. The twist is predictable and the film flopped hard, but Watson plays vulnerability well.
9. The Circle (2017)
Dave Eggers’ book became a film with Watson as Mae, who goes to work for a Google/Facebook-like tech company that slowly becomes fascist. Tom Hanks plays the creepy CEO, John Boyega is the whistleblower. It should have been relevant, but the execution is flat.
8. Colonia (2015)
Watson and Daniel Brühl in Chile during Pinochet’s coup. She infiltrates Colonia Dignidad, a real cult/concentration camp run by a Nazi, to save him. It is a true story, Michael Nyqvist plays the leader, and it is intense and depressing.
7. This Is the End (2013)
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg made a stoner-apocalypse comedy where everyone plays themselves. Watson appears halfway through, armed with an axe, steals all their stuff, and leaves. “Hermione just stole all our shit!” It is five minutes of screen time, but it is hilarious. She plays against her image and it works perfectly.
6. My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Michelle Williams plays Marilyn Monroe, Kenneth Branagh is Laurence Olivier, and Eddie Redmayne is the assistant who falls in love. Watson has a small role as costume assistant Lucy. It was her first film after Potter was finally finished. She is barely on screen, but she wanted to work with good directors (Simon Curtis) and real actresses (Williams received an Oscar nomination).
5. Noah (2014)
Darren Aronofsky made an insane Biblical epic. Russell Crowe is Noah, who slowly goes insane; Watson plays Ila—infertile, in love with Noah’s son (Logan Lerman), becomes pregnant, and Noah wants to kill the babies. There are rock monsters. It is completely crazy and ambitious, and Watson has several intense scenes.
4. The Bling Ring (2013)
Sofia Coppola made a film about the real-life teenagers who robbed celebrities’ homes in LA. Watson is Nicki (based on Alexis Neiers), who talks like a Kardashian and lives for Instagram fame. “I wanna rob.” The Vanity Fair interview shot is iconic.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Stephen Chbosky adapted his own book. Logan Lerman is Charlie, the sensitive freshman; Ezra Miller is Patrick; Watson is Sam—the senior who becomes Charlie’s crush. The tunnel scene with “Heroes” by Bowie is pure teenage transcendence. Watson plays an American girl with trauma and performs the accent perfectly. This was her proof that she could do more than just Hermione.
2. Little Women (2019)
Greta Gerwig wrote and directed this Louisa May Alcott adaptation. Saoirse Ronan is Jo, Watson is Meg—the oldest sister who marries a poor teacher and accepts that her life will be small. Florence Pugh steals the film as Amy, but Watson has that one scene where Meg breaks down and says she also had dreams. It is her most mature work. Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep—everyone is perfect.
1. Harry Potter (2001-2011)
What can you say? Eight films, ten years, one character. Watson was 9 when she did the auditions, 21 when ‘Deathly Hallows Part 2’ was released. Hermione starts as the annoying know-it-all and ends as the most competent person in the room. Watson grew up in that role, learned to act while making the films, and made Hermione an icon for a generation of girls. The films vary in quality, but Watson is consistent. This defines her career, whether she wants it to or not.
