Childhood and Education Journey of Emma Watson in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Emma Watson. From birth to education, explore key events.

Emma Watson is an English actress recognized as one of the highest-paid actresses globally. She gained widespread recognition for her role in the Harry Potter film series. Watson has been featured in Forbes and Vanity Fair and named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. She was also an honoree on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2015 and 2016.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

April 1990: Emma Watson's Birth

In April 1990, Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson was born in Paris, France.

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1999: Casting for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone began

In 1999, casting began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Casting agents found Emma Watson through her Oxford theatre teacher and after eight auditions she landed the role of Hermione Granger, with J.K. Rowling's support after her first screen test.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [Paperback] J K Rowling

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2003: Moving on from Dragon School

In 2003, Emma Watson moved on from the Dragon School in Oxford.

June 2006: GCSE School Examinations

In June 2006, Emma Watson took GCSE school examinations in ten subjects, achieving eight A* and two A grades.

March 2007: Signing on for final Harry Potter installments

On 23 March 2007, Emma Watson signed on to continue her role as Hermione for the final Harry Potter installments.

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May 2007: AS Levels

In May 2007, Emma Watson took AS levels in English, Geography, Art, and History of Art.

July 2007: Hand and Footprint Ceremony and Acknowledgment of Financial Success

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, Watson's work on the Harry Potter series was said to have earned her more than £10 million.

February 2009: 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.

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March 2011: Deferring course at Brown University

In March 2011, after 18 months at Brown University, Emma Watson announced she was deferring her course for "a semester or two".

2011: Balancing Films and Education

From 2011 Emma Watson split her time between working on films and continuing her education.

2013: Yoga and Meditation Certification

In 2013, Emma Watson became certified to teach yoga and meditation and attended a silent meditation retreat in Canada, aiming to find inner peace and self-reliance in the face of fame and uncertainty.

May 2014: Graduation from Brown University

In May 2014, Emma Watson graduated from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in English literature.

November 2014: Paddington Bear Statue Design

In November 2014, Emma Watson designed a Paddington Bear statue as part of a London-wide initiative to promote the film Paddington. The statue was later auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

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2015: Yousafzai Declares Herself a Feminist

In 2015, Malala Yousafzai stated she decided to call herself a feminist after hearing Emma Watson's HeForShe speech, highlighting the impact of Watson's advocacy on feminism and gender equality.

January 2016: Our Shared Shelf Book Club Start

In January 2016, Emma Watson started a feminist Goodreads book club called "Our Shared Shelf." The club aimed to share feminist ideas and encourage discussion, selecting one book per month. The first book was "My Life on the Road" by Gloria Steinem.

My Life on the Road

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February 2016: Visiting Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall

In February 2016, Emma Watson was appointed as a visiting fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. This appointment signifies her academic achievements and ongoing engagement with higher education.

2016: Visit to Malawi

In 2016, on International Day of the Girl Child, Emma Watson visited Malawi in her role as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. She met with traditional chiefs and girls who had returned to school after being freed from child marriage, advocating for girls' education and empowerment.

March 2017: Vanity Fair Photo Shoot Controversy

In March 2017, Emma Watson faced backlash for a Vanity Fair photo shoot where she was partly visible, leading to accusations of hypocrisy from some media outlets. She defended her stance, emphasizing that feminism is about freedom, liberation, and equality, and not a tool to judge other women.

February 2018: Donation to Time's Up UK

In February 2018, Emma Watson donated £1 million to Time's Up UK. She also played a role in establishing industry guidelines on bullying and harassment. She later helped set up the organization's Justice and Equality Fund, which donated to women's groups across the country.

2018: Founding Member of Time's Up UK

In 2018, Emma Watson helped launch Time's Up UK as a founding member.

July 2019: Launch of Legal Helpline & G7 Advisory Group

In July 2019, Emma Watson helped launch a legal helpline for sexual harassment victims, in partnership with Rights of Women. In the same year, she joined a G7 gender equality advisory group convened by Emmanuel Macron to advocate for political and economic advances for women.

2019: "Self-Partnered" Declaration

In 2019, Emma Watson described herself as single, using the self-coined term "self-partnered". This phrase generated discussion about relationship status and personal identity.

2019: Appointment to 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.

2019: Carbon Footprint Analysis

In 2019, researchers analyzed Emma Watson's carbon footprint and found it was the lowest of the celebrities analyzed, but her CO2 emissions from flying alone were still three times the global average.

January 2020: Our Shared Shelf Halts Updates

In January 2020, Emma Watson's feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf, ceased updates, but remained open as a discussion board. The online book club fostered dialogue and engagement with feminist literature.

June 2020: Support for Black Lives Matter

In June 2020, in support of the George Floyd protests, Emma Watson shared anti-racism educational resources on social media and interviewed Reni Eddo-Lodge for a Spotify podcast episode about Lodge's book "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race".

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race

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July 2020: Reimagining 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 stops to highlight women and non-binary people who have shaped the city's history. The initiative will be published by Haymarket Books on International Women's Day 2021.

June 2021: Investment in FabricNano

In June 2021, it was reported that Emma Watson was among a group of investors who funded $12.5 million into FabricNano. FabricNano is a startup developing sustainable alternatives to petrochemical products.

2021: Hosting Climate Change Panel

In 2021, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Emma Watson hosted a panel on climate change with climate activist Greta Thunberg.

2021: Reports of engagement or retirement refuted

In 2021, various reports surfaced stating that Emma Watson was engaged or retiring from acting, but Watson and her representatives refuted these reports, attributing her absence to continued social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

January 2022: Support for Palestine and Subsequent Backlash

In January 2022, Emma Watson posted an image of a pro-Palestinian protest on Instagram, which sparked criticism. Former Israeli science minister Danny Danon accused her of antisemitism. The post and Danon's comment received both support and criticism from various public figures.

April 2023: Launch of Renais Gin

In April 2023, Emma Watson and her brother Alex launched Renais, a sustainable gin brand made from recycled skin grapes and certified carbon neutral. The Watsons drew inspiration from their childhood in France and their father's wine business for the brand.

September 2023: Soho House Award Win

In September 2023, Emma Watson and her brother won the Soho House Award for "Breakthrough Entrepreneur" for their gin brand, Renais, recognizing their success in the spirits industry.

2023: Enrolling at the University of Oxford

In 2023, Emma Watson began a course of Master of Studies in creative writing at the University of Oxford, where she matriculated at Lady Margaret Hall.

February 2024: Audi S3 Towed

On 6 February 2024, Emma Watson's Audi S3 was towed in Stratford-upon-Avon after being parked obstructively for nearly four hours outside a pub. This incident contributed to her eventual driving ban in July 2025.

July 2024: Speeding Incident

On the evening of 31 July 2024, Emma Watson was recorded by a speed camera driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford, which subsequently led to a driving ban in 2025.

January 2025: Renais Raises $6 Million

In January 2025, it was reported that Renais, the gin brand co-founded by Emma Watson and her brother, raised $6 million for investment, indicating growth and confidence in the brand's future.

July 2025: Driving Ban

On 16 July 2025, Emma Watson received a six-month driving ban. This occurred after a speed camera recorded her driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford on the evening of 31 July 2024. She was ordered to pay a total of £1,044 to High Wycombe Magistrates' Court and given three penalty points following a five-minute hearing which she did not attend. The ban followed three previous speeding offences that had resulted in nine points on her licence and a separate incident on 6 February 2024 in which her Audi S3 was towed after being parked obstructively for nearly four hours outside a Stratford-upon-Avon pub.

September 2025: Views on October 7 Attacks and Gaza War

In September 2025, Emma Watson shared her views on the October 7 attacks and the Gaza war in an interview with Jay Shetty on his podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty.