One of 2001's most highly anticipated films was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and the casting process for the trio of young stars had some of the old-fashioned Hollywood feel, akin to the search for another literary figure--Scarlett O'Hara. Once Daniel Radcliffe had been set as the bespectacled young wizard, it became necessary to find a young girl to portray Harry's pal, the serious and dedicated Hermione Granger. Casting directors in the United Kingdom scoured primary schools and youth arts groups hoping to find the right youngster. Emma Watson, a fan of the J.K. Rowling books, thought it would be "a giggle" to audition for the role when the casting people visited her school in Oxford. But when she kept being called back to read for the part, the cute, light-haired pre-teen began to realize she really had a shot at it. Impressed with Watson's ability to be direct but still appealing, the producers settled on her for the part. It also helped that she shared an instant chemistry with Radcliffe and Rupert Grint (who was cast to play Harry's best friend Ron Weasley). While the youngster remains uncertain about pursuing acting as a full-time profession and was left with little time to pursue other roles due to the back-to-back nature of filming the franchise before the young actors outgrew their roles, Watson reprised Hermione in the sequels "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) and the slightly darker "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004). She of course reprised Hermione for “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005), the first installment to be directed by a fellow Brit (Mike Newell), and was set to star in the next sequel, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (set for release in 2007).
* Also Credited As:
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson
* Born:
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson on April 15, 1990 in Paris, France
* Job Titles:
Actress
Family
* Brother: Alex Watson. Appeared as an extra in two Harry Potter films
* Father: Chris Watson.
* Mother: Jacqueline Luesby.
Significant Others
* Companion: Jay Barrymore. Began dating in March 2008
Education
* The Dragon School, Oxford, England, 2003
* Headington School, Oxford, England, 2007
Milestones
* 2001 Made feature film debut as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone ; adapted from the first novel of the best-selling fantasy series by J.K. Rowling and directed by Chris Columbus
* 2002 Reprised role of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ; again directed by Chris Columbus
* 2004 Again play Hermione in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third in the series directed by Alfonso Cuarón
* 2005 Reprised the role of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, adapted from the fourth book in the fantasy series by J.K. Rowling and directed by Mike Newell
* 2007 Reprised the role of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, adapted from the fifth book in the fantasy series and directed by David Yates
* 2008 Lent her voice to the animated feature, The Tale of Despereaux
* Will reprise role for the sixth film in the popular series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ; once again directed by David Yates (lensed 2007)
