Emma Watson Opens Up About the Part of Hollywood That “Destroyed Her Soul”
Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, recently spoke candidly about why she stepped away from acting.
In a revealing interview with Hollywood Authentic, Watson shared that the part of filmmaking she disliked most was promoting and selling movies. She described it as “quite soul-destroying.”
The 33-year-old actress explained that while she loved using her acting skills, the promotional side of the job took a toll.
“But a bigger component than the actual job itself is the promotion and selling of that piece of work, this piece of art. The balance of that can get quite thrown off. I think I’ll be honest and straight-forward, and say: I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying,” she said.
Despite her struggles with the publicity side, Watson emphasized that she still misses the craft of acting itself. “I do very much miss using my skill-set, and I very much miss the art,” she said. She highlighted how immersive and freeing acting can be, describing it as “such an intense form of meditation” because it allows her to focus entirely on the moment.
However, she admitted that she does not miss the pressure that comes with acting. She recalled performing in a small play and realizing just how stressful even a low-stakes project can be.
“I don’t miss the pressure. I forgot it was a lot of pressure. I did a small thing for a play, just with my friends. I was like, ‘Bloody hell, this is stressful!’ And that wasn’t even for a real public audience or anything,” Watson said.
Watson also discussed why she decided to take a break from acting. She wanted to rebuild the foundation of her personal life, focusing on home, family, and friends. “I needed to go and do some construction work. Some good foundations for anything else to grow from… You realize you don’t have a rhythm to your life,” she explained.
The actress described the decision to step back as challenging but ultimately the right choice. “Walking away from things is much harder than walking towards things… Sometimes the hard thing is the right thing, not the easy thing,” she added.
Looking ahead, Watson hasn’t ruled out returning to film, possibly in a behind-the-scenes role. “Yes, I think I’d consider everything,” she said, hinting that her creative journey may continue off-camera for now.
Emma Watson’s honesty sheds light on the often unseen challenges of acting in Hollywood. While fans may miss seeing her on screen, it’s clear she values her personal well-being and creative freedom above all.
What do you think about Watson’s experience? Should the pressures of promoting films influence an actor’s career choices? Share your thoughts in the comments.
