The actress, who portrayed Hermione Granger alongside co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, participated in all eight films of the franchise. Following her landmark role in J.K. Rowling’s series, Emma Watson shifted her focus to academics. At 34 years old, she began a master’s program in creative writing at Oxford University in September 2023 and is reportedly now pursuing a doctorate.
Although Watson has maintained a relatively low profile, she has recently been the target of criticism from Rowling on social media. The 59-year-old author has faced backlash for her strong opinions on transgender rights, which have distanced her from the former child actors of the Harry Potter series.
On March 18th, Rowling was questioned on social media about which actor might ruin a film for her, to which she teasingly responded with three guesses. While she shared some humorous emojis, many seemed directed at Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint. In a previous essay discussing concerns regarding “new transactivism,” both Radcliffe and Watson criticized Rowling. Watson emphasized in 2020 that “trans people deserve to live their lives without being constantly asked or told they’re not who they say they are,” and expressed her support for the transgender community, affirming that many people respect and appreciate them.
