When Emma Watson Revealed She Would Never Do Drugs Or Nude Scenes: ‘Can’t Leave Hermione Behind’

Last Updated:March 15, 2025, 10:13 IST

After her 2019 film Little Women, Emma Watson took a break from acting to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing at Oxford University.

Emma Watson became a household name through her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. Adapted from J.K. Rowling’s books, the film series also featured Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. Watson spent much of her early life in this role. Her career then extended beyond the magic world as she took on roles in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast and Little Women which was released in 2019. Following that, she stepped away from acting to focus on her studies at Oxford University.

But did you know that Watson once spoke about the kind of roles she would never take on? In an earlier interview with The Times, she made it clear that she did not want to portray characters involved in drug use or appear nude on screen. “I’m not going to get my kit off or snort cocaine in a film, just to leave Hermione behind. I’m not going to do something shocking because I’m so paranoid or insecure that I can’t play another role convincingly,” the 34-year-old actress said. “I don’t want everyone to forget me as Hermione. I’m really proud of her,” she added.

But in another interview with The Scotsman, Watson shared a slightly different view when it came to nudity in films. She explained that while she has personal limits, she would consider such scenes if they were essential to the storyline. She said, “I’ve been saying since I was 16 that if it’s an interesting character and important for the character development, and of course if it’s important to the story, then I’ll do it because I’m an actress and that’s it really.”

Watson has also spoken about how difficult it was to move on from her childhood role and take on different characters. In a 2012 interview with Jonathan Ross, she talked about her self-doubt after playing Hermione for 10 years. “I didn’t know if I had other people in me or not. I did doubt myself a little bit. I think I’d just played one person, who in many ways was similar to my own personality, and I played her for ten years and I got so comfortable doing that, that the idea of coming out and playing somebody else was terrifying,” she said.

Watson has enrolled for a master’s programme in creative writing at Oxford University. “I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before – more autonomy,” she shared during an interview with Vogue UK.