July 10, 2011

Emma Watson at the New York Press Conference for Harry Potter 7 Part 2

Steve Kloves about his first encounter with Emma on set before she was cast:
She was pacing around, very nervous about what she was there for, etc. Just like Hermione.

Emma's interview:
Talk about your last scene as Hermione. What were you filming?
The last show we did was this strange moment where we dive into the fireplace at the Ministry of Magic. It was for Part 1. Dan Rupert and I jumped on one by one.
Yates made the point we were leaping into the unknown. It was the perfect metaphor for what we were about to go into.

Were there any other last moments? Last moment at Hogwarts, etc that stick out in your mind?
This film was incredibly challenging for me. It really pushed me as an actress. It allowed me to feel a lot of genuine emotion about loss, and how I was feeling at the end. Perfect example is when we stand on the bridge after the battle before we flash forward. I just remember really feeling exactly how Hermione was feeling.

What character traits do you share with Hermione?
An earnestness, an eager to please, terrified of getting into trouble. I'm very heady in the same way she is - kind of constantly thinking three or four moves ahead. I try to intellectualize a lot. She's very determined, I am as well. We're both loyal. Bit of a feminist. I will speak my mind.

Is Hermione the first one to be a working mom in a way?
It's so interesting. I think for my mom she was the first generation that said "We really can work." And my mom worked when I was growing up. For my generation we do have the choice to stay at home - which is amazing to have the choice. Hermione has so much knowledge. A thirst for knowledge. She loves words. Being around someone like Hermione must be infectious. I can imagine it wasn't difficult to get her children interested in things when Hermione has such a passion for learning.

Are American tastes and British taste very different (music wise)?
I don't think there's too much different in tastes, in terms of my own tastes. I'm very influenced by my parents. My dad collects records. He loves blues. My mom would plan The Pretenders, Elvis, 10,000 Maniacs. My brother recently has been getting me into classic rock. Tom Petty, The Cars, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, White Stripes. And I also love to dance. I'll listen to Gaga, Rhianna, Everything really. I've been listening to a lot more classical music recently. I love music and I always have music playing if i can. My destressing thing is to put my iPod headphones in and just walk if I need to zone out or calm down. Dan is so ballsy. That kid. Amazing. (referring to his performance in How To Succeed). I'd love to do Broadway. I'd love to sing.. I love singing.

How do you feel you've changed personally over the past 10 years?
It's hard to say because when you go from 9 to 21, it's hard to say what wasn't part of the natural process when a lot of else has happened. I went from being a 9 year old school girl to having a job. I've learnt how to be an actress, how films are made, how to do interviews hopefully (laughs), and I have quite a strong sense of who I am.

Now that the series has ended, which is your favorite?
Part 1 and Part 2 really stand apart from all the rest. The quality, the role, the depth. And how much darker they've gotten gave me a chance to stress myself. For the first many years I didn't feel I was doing much acting at all. I feel I can say I'm an actress now and really believe in that.

What's next for you?
I'm going to travel this summer which I'm really excited about. Change is always scary but I'm excited because I'm entering a new chapter in my life. Traveling this summer, going back to school in the fall, I've got 2 years left to get my degree. I just finished filming the Perks of Being a Wallflower - I had the best experience for 6 weeks filming that. Outside of Potter, that convinced me I should really continue acting. It solidified that for me. And just now reading reading reading. Finding great directors hopefully who will keep teaching me so I can keep learning. I'm excited to be an actress now.

When did you realize you were a huge actress?
It happened when in Bangladesh a boy stopped me and said "you're the girl from Harry Potter." It reaches the farthest, furthest corners of the earth in the least expected places. I was like, "Wow, you REALLY can't go anywhere. This is incredible". The fame became easier to handle once I accepted it. It was a process that happened gradually. I've never known anything else.

In your own life when did you have to put your own bravery to the test?
I feel like young girls are told, I don't know, that they have to be this kind of princess and fragile. It's bullshit. You've got to be.. I identify much more with being a warrior, a fighter. If I was going to be a princess I'd be a warrior princess definitely. There's nothing wrong with being afraid. It's not the absence of fear, it's overcoming it. Sometimes you've got to blast through and have faith. While filming Perks of Being A Wallflower.. I was terrified. I was so nervous. New crew, new location, new cast. There's a scene where I have to mimic Susan Saradon and I have to do this dance in front of extras and I felt ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with being afraid. It's not the absence of fear, it's overcoming it. Sometimes you've got to blast through and have faith. While filming Perks of Being A Wallflower.. I was terrified. I was so nervous. New crew, new location, new cast. There's a scene where I have to mimic Susan Saradon and I have to do this dance in front of extras and I felt ridiculous.

Which school are you going to?
I'm going to Oxford. I haven't left Brown. I'm doing my third year abroad. I'll go back to the States to do my last year. I took a semester off but I'm still not behind.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

i dont believe a word she says. I already see four or five contradictions from things she said before.

Anonymous said...

lol echee you can basically delete your blog everything you said was wrong. you mad though? =)

Anonymous said...

The only contradictions I see are comming from you Echee. You make up all these facts, use quotes and articles that are totally irrelevant. So I love it when interviews like these prove you wrong :D What goes around, comes around I guess.

Birgit said...

What a boring questions..

Anonymous said...

"The only contradictions I see are comming from you Echee. You make up all these facts, use quotes and articles that are totally irrelevant."

lol @ you anon

Anonymous said...

So funny that you're also so quick to respond Echee wah wah (if you'd only knew what that means :D). I can't imagine the times a day you must check this blog. Even more so then the fans. That's weird to say the least!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see Perks, if only just for that Susan Sarandon scene from Rocky Horror that she gets to do.

Jana said...

I am also eager to Perks.
I loved the interview, which will be released pictures of her?
I would love to see - them!

Jana said...

I see those old stupid and offensive comments are being posted back, it is annoying.
That's how I diseram "You can not please Greeks and Trojans".

Anonymous said...

and none coming from me. I am just giving my opinion.

Anonymous said...

yeah but please Echee don't try too hard making everyone getting a headache everytime you comment this blog. PLEASE. Try to be more than just a hater. everything she's doing isn't wrong and she's not a robot, she contradicts, but she's not lying everytime she speaks.

Anonymous said...

echee has said nothing of hate here. I dont recall a time echee called someone names or swore. just because you dont agree with a differeing view does not make it hate. that's a concept some do not realize unless that view is theirs.

Anonymous said...

"Which school are you going to? " ... "I'm going to Oxford. I haven't left Brown. I'm doing my third year abroad."

Am I the only one that finds this ironic? She is doing her third year "abroad" in the city she grew up in?

Anyway, I just got back from The Pub. I am off to Echee's Blog to make some comments. I am in a mood to defend Emma.

Anonymous said...

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

OMG, THE FACT THAT YOU DEFEND EMMA, (SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW) TO EECHEE JUST SHOWS YOUR INSECURITY IN LIKING HER. Come here to comment on the article, whatever your comments are instead of just picking on each other.

Anonymous said...

new video of her arriving the press conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjzKUnCeJNA&feature=player_embedded

Anonymous said...

Thanks for article.
But I would like to know how many years it takes to get degree on university in UK? Is there bachelor and master degree too? Or just master degree? In my country it´s 3 years to get bachelor´s degree and another 2 to get master´s degree so I wonder how it is in UK. thanks for answer
Alex

Anonymous said...

Okay these comments aren't just cool. C'est juste que Echee est un peu envahissant, au nombre de commentaires qu'il met sur ce blog. C'est ben beau dire qu'il n'aime pas Emma et qu'il donne son opinion, mais donner des commentaires égatifs a l'égard de quelqu'un a chaque pas, désolé, mais moi j'appelle ça du hate. Du hate constructif, mais c'est du hate quand même. Je peux ne pas aimer ce qu'Emma fait parfois, mais je n'irai pas jusqu'a dire que tout ce qu'elle fait est mauvais, et personne ne peut le dire puisqu'il est fondamentalement impossible d'être ou tout bon ou tout mauvais en tant qu'humain.

Eden said...

Je crois qu'Echee pense qu'Emma est le Malin XD Il est incapable de voir un point positif à propos d'Emma. Il a décidé de la haïr et n'écoute rien dès que quelqu'un se met à "défendre" Emma ou même si Emma dit quelque chose de bien, il prend ce qui le chante, le transforme à sa guise et ensuite raconte des histoires pour que d'autres gens haïssent Emma. On en peut rien faire avec ce genre de personne, je pense qu'on devrait tout simplement l'ignorer.

Anonymous said...

Très bon résumé de ma pensée Eden. Désolé, le mélange de français et d'anglais m'a un peu mêlée!

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

education system in the us is set up as credits. usually 5 classes is about 15 credits. two terms meaning one whole years thats 30 credits. after two years you have 60 credits. thats considered an associates degree. go two more years with the same credits and you have 120 credits. Thats a bachelors degree. emma saying she has two years left does not sound right. Maybe its transfers different to the UK.