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.