Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Emma Watson
How Emma Watson built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Emma Watson is an English actress renowned for her roles in both major blockbusters and independent films. She has garnered numerous awards, including a Young Artist Award and three MTV Movie Awards. Recognized for her financial success, Watson has been featured among the world's highest-paid actresses by Forbes and Vanity Fair. In 2015, Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people globally. Forbes also acknowledged her achievements by including her on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in both 2015 and 2016.
1999: Casting began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In 1999, casting began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Emma Watson's first audition took place when she was nine years old, after being found by casting agents through her Oxford theatre teacher.
2001: Debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In 2001, Emma Watson made her screen debut with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The film broke records and Watson's performance was critically acclaimed, earning her the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress.
2001: Won Young Artist Award for role in Harry Potter film
In 2001, Emma Watson received a Young Artist Award for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', marking early recognition of her acting talent.
2004: Release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In 2004, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released. Critics lauded Watson's performance, and she won two Otto Awards and the Child Performance of the Year award from Total Film.
2005: Modelling Career
In 2005, Emma Watson began her modelling career with a photo shoot for Teen Vogue, becoming the youngest person to cover the magazine.
2005: Release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
In 2005, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released. Critics praised Watson's maturity, and she won a bronze Otto Award.
2006: Played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag
In 2006, Emma Watson played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag, a special mini-episode of Harry Potter in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.
March 2007: Signed on for the final Harry Potter installments
On 23 March 2007, Emma Watson signed on to continue her role as Hermione for the final Harry Potter installments.
July 2007: Hand, feet, and wand imprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
On 9 July 2007, Emma Watson and her Harry Potter co-stars left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. That month, it was reported that her work on the Harry Potter series had earned her more than £10 million.
2007: Starred in Ballet Shoes
In 2007, Emma Watson starred in Ballet Shoes, marking her first major role outside the Harry Potter franchise.
May 2008: Filming of her part completed for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Emma Watson's part in the sixth Harry Potter film was filmed from 18 December 2007 to 17 May 2008.
November 2008: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiere delayed
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiere delayed from November 2008 to July 2009.
December 2008: Voiced Princess Pea in The Tale of Despereaux
In December 2008, Emma Watson voiced the character Princess Pea in the animated film The Tale of Despereaux, based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo.
2008: Voice role in The Tale of Despereaux
In 2008, Emma Watson lent her voice to The Tale of Despereaux, an animated film.
February 2009: Began filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
In February 2009, Emma Watson took a gap year after finishing secondary school, to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Parts 1 & 2.
February 2009: Filming began for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
On 18 February 2009, Emma Watson began filming for the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
March 2009: Ranked sixth on Forbes list of "Most Valuable Young Stars"
In March 2009, Emma Watson was ranked sixth on the Forbes list of "Most Valuable Young Stars", recognizing her significant impact in the entertainment industry at a young age.
June 2009: Partnership with Burberry
In June 2009, Emma Watson confirmed her partnership with Burberry as the face of their Autumn/Winter 2009 campaign.
July 2009: Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiered on 15 July 2009, with critics praising the lead actors' performances.
September 2009: Involvement with People Tree
In September 2009, Emma Watson announced her involvement with People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand, as a creative adviser.
February 2010: Named Hollywood's highest-paid female star
In February 2010, Emma Watson was recognized as Hollywood's highest-paid female star, having earned an estimated £19 million in 2009, marking a significant achievement in her career.
February 2010: Release of People Tree collection
In February 2010, Emma Watson's spring line of clothing for People Tree was released, featuring styles inspired by southern France and London. It was widely publicized.
May 2010: Negotiations for The Perks of Being a Wallflower
In May 2010, Emma Watson was reported to be in talks to star in Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on the 1999 novel of the same name.
June 2010: Appeared in One Night Only's music video
In June 2010, Emma Watson appeared in a music video for One Night Only. The video, "Say You Don't Want It", was screened on Channel 4 on 26 June 2010.
June 2010: Filming ended for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
On 12 June 2010, Emma Watson's filming ended for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
November 2010: Release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
In November 2010, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was released.
2010: Burberry Campaign
In 2010, Emma Watson appeared in Burberry's Spring/Summer campaign alongside her brother Alex and other musicians and models.
March 2011: Face of Lancôme
In March 2011, Emma Watson announced that she had been chosen as the face of Lancôme.
July 2011: Release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
In July 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was released, becoming Watson's most commercially successful film to date.
2011: Split her time between working on films and continuing her education
From 2011 to 2014, Emma Watson split her time between working on films and continuing her education.
2011: Appeared in My Week with Marilyn
In 2011, Emma Watson appeared in My Week with Marilyn as Lucy, a wardrobe assistant.
February 2012: Cast in The Bling Ring
On 29 February 2012, Emma Watson joined the cast of Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring", based on the real-life Bling Ring robberies, where she played a fictionalized version of Alexis Neiers. The film received mixed reviews, but Watson's performance was highly praised.
June 2012: Watson confirmed for role in Noah
In June 2012, Emma Watson was confirmed for the role of Ila, Shem's wife, in Darren Aronofsky's "Noah".
September 2012: Release of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
In September 2012, The film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" was released, starring Emma Watson as Sam alongside Logan Lerman. The movie received favorable reviews, with critics praising Watson's performance as a departure from her role in the Harry Potter series.
2012: Starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
In 2012, Emma Watson starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower as Sam, receiving critical acclaim.
March 2013: Turned down Cinderella role
In March 2013, Emma Watson was in negotiations to star as Cinderella in Disney's live-action adaptation but turned down the role because she did not connect with the character.
2013: Portrayed Alexis Neiers in The Bling Ring
In 2013, Emma Watson portrayed Alexis Neiers in Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, receiving further acclaim.
2013: Release of The Bling Ring and This Is the End
In 2013, Emma Watson starred in "The Bling Ring", for which she received unanimous praise, and had a supporting role in the comedy "This Is the End", where she played an exaggerated version of herself and explored comedic acting.
January 2014: Release of Pantomime featuring Watson's vocals
In January 2014, the song "Pantomime" by Ben Hammersley, featuring background vocals by Emma Watson, was released.
March 2014: Release of Noah
In March 2014, the film "Noah", starring Emma Watson as Ila, was released and received mixed reviews despite its box office success.
July 2014: Appointment as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
In July 2014, Emma Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill ambassador, signaling her commitment to gender equality and women's rights.
November 2014: Designed a Paddington Bear statue for charity auction.
In November 2014, Emma Watson designed a Paddington Bear statue as part of a collection of fifty statues located around London. The statue was auctioned off to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
2014: Starred in Noah and won British Artist of the Year
In 2014, Emma Watson starred in Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic Noah and was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, winning British Artist of the Year.
January 2015: Speech at the World Economic Forum's annual winter meeting
In January 2015, Emma Watson gave a speech about gender equality at the World Economic Forum's annual winter meeting, further solidifying her role as an advocate for women's rights.
2015: Starring roles in Colonia and Regression
In 2015, Emma Watson starred in the thrillers "Colonia" and "Regression", both of which received negative reviews. She also appeared in an episode of BBC's "The Vicar of Dibley".
2015: Ranked top spot on AskMen "Top 99 Outstanding Women 2015" list.
In 2015, Emma Watson was ranked number one on the AskMen "Top 99 Outstanding Women 2015" list, due to her dedication to women's rights issues, and was included on the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people.
January 2016: Started Goodreads book club: Our Shared Shelf
In January 2016, Emma Watson started a feminist Goodreads book club called "Our Shared Shelf" to share feminist ideas and encourage discussion. The first book selected was 'My Life on the Road' by Gloria Steinem.
February 2016: Watson takes year-long break from acting
In February 2016, Emma Watson announced she was taking a year-long break from acting to focus on personal development and women's rights work.
February 2016: Appointed visiting fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University
In February 2016, Emma Watson was appointed visiting fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, highlighting her involvement in academic circles.
2016: Calvin Klein gown to the Met Gala
In 2016, Emma Watson wore a Calvin Klein gown made out of recycled plastic bottles to the Met Gala.
2016: Visited Malawi for International Day of the Girl Child
In 2016, on International Day of the Girl Child, Emma Watson visited Malawi to meet with traditional chiefs and girls who returned to school after being freed from child marriage, advocating for girls' education and against child marriage.
2017: Starring as Belle in Beauty and the Beast
In 2017, Emma Watson starred as Belle in the live-action adaptation of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". The film was a box office success and received positive reviews, with Watson's performance being praised for her pluck, spunk, and fierce independence.
2017: The Press Tour
In 2017, Emma Watson started an Instagram account titled "The Press Tour" to detail the ethical brands she wore during press tours for films like Beauty and the Beast and The Circle.
2017: Ranked among world's highest-paid actresses by Forbes
In 2017, Forbes ranked Emma Watson among the world's highest-paid actresses, with annual earnings of $14 million, reflecting her continued success and popularity in the film industry.
February 2018: Donated to Time's Up UK
In February 2018, Emma Watson donated £1 million to Time's Up UK, demonstrating her commitment to addressing workplace harassment and inequality. She also helped set up the organization's Justice and Equality Fund.
March 2018: Guest-edited Vogue Australia
In March 2018, Emma Watson guest-edited the March issue of Vogue Australia focusing on fashion sustainability and was photographed by Peter Lindbergh for the magazine.
2018: Helped launch Time's Up UK
In 2018, Emma Watson helped launch Time's Up UK as a founding member.
July 2019: Helped launch a legal helpline for sexual harassment victims.
In July 2019, Emma Watson helped launch a legal helpline for people who have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace, providing legal advice through the charity Rights of Women.
2019: Starring in Little Women
In 2019, Emma Watson starred as Meg March in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women". The film was critically acclaimed and a box office success.
2019: Starred as Meg March in Little Women
In 2019, Emma Watson starred as Meg March in Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age drama Little Women.
2019: Appointed to a G7 advisory body for women's rights
In 2019, Emma Watson was appointed to a G7 advisory body for women's rights, consulting with leaders on foreign policy.
January 2020: Fashion Footprint Calculator
In January 2020, Emma Watson partnered with ThredUP to launch a "Fashion Footprint Calculator", to calculate the carbon impact of wardrobes.
June 2020: Supported Black Lives Matter movement.
In June 2020, Emma Watson showed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement by sharing anti-racism educational resources on social media following the George Floyd protests, and interviewed Reni Eddo-Lodge for a podcast about her book, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race.
June 2020: Board of Directors of Kering
In June 2020, Emma Watson was appointed the youngest member of the board of directors of Kering, owner of fashion brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and chaired Kering's sustainability committee.
July 2020: Partnered to Reimagine the London Underground Map
In July 2020, Emma Watson partnered with Reni Eddo-Lodge and the WOW Foundation to reimagine the London Underground Map, renaming the 270 stops to spotlight women and non-binary people who have shaped the city's history.
2020: Sat on the board of directors of Kering
From 2020 to 2023, Emma Watson sat on the board of directors of Kering, a luxury brand group, in her capacity as an advocate for sustainable fashion.
2020: Future career plans
In 2020, Emma Watson discussed her future career plans, expressing a desire to amplify more voices and work behind the scenes, with fewer red carpets and more conference meetings.
June 2021: Invested in FabricNano startup.
In June 2021, Emma Watson was reported to be part of a group of investors who invested $12.5 million into FabricNano, a startup focused on developing sustainable alternatives to petrochemical products.
2021: Hosted Climate Change Panel at Glasgow Conference
At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Emma Watson hosted a panel on climate change, featuring climate activist Greta Thunberg and other guests.
2021: Addressed Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
In 2021, Emma Watson was among the 400 signatories in a letter calling for the UK government to include women in "decision-making roles" at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
August 2022: Face of Prada Beauty's Paradoxe
In August 2022, Emma Watson became the face of Prada Beauty's new fragrance, Paradoxe, and starred in, directed, wrote, and narrated the promotional short film.
2022: Harry Potter Reunion
In 2022, Emma Watson reunited with the cast of the Harry Potter film series for an HBO Max special, "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts."
April 2023: Launched Renais Gin
In April 2023, Emma Watson, along with her brother Alex Watson, launched Renais, a sustainable Gin brand made from recycled skin grapes and certified carbon neutral.
September 2023: Won Soho House Award for Renais
In September 2023, Emma Watson and her brother won the Soho House Award for "Breakthrough Entrepreneur" for their Gin brand, Renais.
2023: Sat on the board of directors of Kering
From 2020 to 2023, Emma Watson sat on the board of directors of Kering, a luxury brand group, in her capacity as an advocate for sustainable fashion.
2023: Departure from Kering
In 2023, Emma Watson's term as a member of the board of directors of Kering concluded.
January 2024: Face of Prada's Re-Nylon collection
In January 2024, Emma Watson became the face of Prada's Re-Nylon collection, the sustainable product line of the brand.
January 2025: Renais Raised $6 Million for Investment
In January 2025, it was reported that Renais, Emma Watson's company, raised $6 million for investment, signifying continued growth and interest in the brand.
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