Emma Watson: Beautifully bewitched

Here Emma talks about how the role has influenced her in real life

Emma Watson has spent the last 10 years in the spotlight - indeed, these days she's one of the most recognisable actresses in the world. Yet she's just 21 years old. Harry Potter fans will, of course, know her as her on-screen character Hermione Granger - who, along with Harry himself and pal Ron Weasley, is one of the leading characters in JK Rowling's bestselling novels.

And with the final Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) released this July, you can expect to see a lot more of Emma - not just on the big screen but also on TV and in countless newspapers and magazines.

If you met Emma, however, you would probably be surprised at how grounded she seems - which is quite an achievement for someone who suddenly became famous at the ripe old age of 11.

"The film industry is a bit nuts, but I think the fact that I kept going to school really helped because I have a life and I have friends outside the business," laughs Emma. "It's partly down to my upbringing, partly my parents and partly my personality. And because we didn't make the films in Hollywood - we made them in Leavesdon studios in Watford it's meant we've had quite a normal existence in a way. So I think that's helped too."

Down to earth

Nobody can accuse Emma of not having her head tightly screwed on, despite finding fame so early on in life. Indeed, despite being a top actress Emma is also soon set to graduate from US-based Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, with a history degree. But how much is Emma really like her on-screen character?

"Parts of my personality have slipped into Hermione and parts of her personality, I'm sure, have unconsciously affected me. I'm positive that playing her has had an influence, definitely," says Emma.

In the final two Harry Potter films, however, Emma says Hermione's personality is the most like her own. "Earlier on I played more of a parody of myself," says the actress. "But she developed into something much more human. Actually we're quite similar really, so it's sometimes hard to see where I've influenced her or she's influenced me, it all gets a bit blurry.

Food fan

As for the real Emma, when she's not acting or studying, she has more in common with most other young women than you might think. "I like watching movies, I like reading and I like sleeping," says Emma. "Sleeping is great. And I like playing sport, I like being with my friends and I like going out to dinner. I love food - and I love cooking."

If, however, you were wondering what Emma likes to cook, here's a clue: it has more in common with student cuisine than the feasts served up in the hall at Hogwarts. "I'm very good at baked beans on toast," Emma admits. "And I make very good roasted peppers too. What else do I do? Mackerel pate - I'm good at that."

Emma is lucky enough to be naturally slim and, despite admitting a fondness for chocolate and pasta, she says she never has to diet. Her attitude is to eat what you like but do plenty of exercise to stay healthy. In fact the actress is famous for her love of sports, and played hockey, netball and tennis at school. She's also a big fan of water sports and has a scuba diving qualification that allows her to dive anywhere in the world.

There again, filming the Harry Potter series has kept Emma active - especially the last two movies, which she says were particularly physically demanding.

"When we were filming part two, there were days when I was in tears," says Emma. "Being cold and wet all the time just takes so much energy out of you. It's so draining, and you just want to go to sleep."

From boys to men

Thanks to her early fame Emma has grown up in the full glare of public attention. Her two co-stars Daniel Radcliff and Rupert Grint have also been transformed from boys to men in front of our eyes. But how has time changed them?

"It's funny," says Emma of her co-stars, "but they've both gone completely opposite ways. At the beginning Rupert was very confident, really chatty and very outgoing. And Dan was very quiet and shy. I remember at the press conference, he was struggling, he was so overwhelmed by the whole thing."

"But now they've just both gone completely different ways. You can't shut Dan up, he just wants to talk about the films. He's got this incredible energy. He's telling jokes and he's really kind of out there."

"Rupert has got just really quiet. He's much more reserved I guess now, which is funny. But they are both still just charming and they haven't changed much, which is nice. We're like a family - like siblings."

Cherished memories

After 10 years of filming, however, what are the moments that Emma will remember forever?

"The yule ball in the fourth film [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix] was amazing. I'll always remember that, just for the costumes and the spectacle. It's a moment in Hermoine's life when she really comes out of herself and becomes a woman."

So what does the future hold for Emma? Will she ever come back to live in England? Will she make more films, or will she move into fashion - where she has already enjoyed considerable success, thanks to her collaborations with top-end fashion designers.

"Funnily enough, I miss the weather in England," laughs Emma. "I miss the grey sometimes. In America I feel that I need to wear sunglasses all the time."

"As for where I want to take my career, I guess I want to diversify a bit and I don't want to throw myself into another big blockbuster or another big franchise any time soon. So, smaller films and just small, little, interesting parts."

"I think I'd even like to play around with some really good supporting roles and then develop and just feel my way into it a bit more. I'd love to try some theatre. That's my other thing. I'd really love to do some Shakespeare."

We're sure you'll agree that whether she pursues a future on stage or on screen, Emma will bring more than a touch of magic to the proceedings.