Emma Watson Opens Up About Extended Acting Break: "Promoting and Selling Was Harder Than Making the Film"

Emma Watson has candidly shared her feelings about her extended hiatus from acting. In a recent interview with Hollywood Authentic, Watson suggested that she is currently in the happiest and healthiest period of her life, hinting at a break from her career that is nearing retirement.

Watson has been absent from the screen since wrapping up filming for the 2018 movie ‘Little Women’. With a nearly seven-year gap, she explained her reluctance to rush back into acting, stating, "The pressure of being in the public eye is immense. The process of promoting and selling a film was much harder than making it."

She further elaborated, "Honestly, I don't really miss the 'selling' aspect of it. It felt like a soul-crushing experience. However, I do miss using my craft through acting and the process of creating a project." Watson likened acting to a "deep meditation," expressing nostalgia for the moments of intense focus and freedom experienced during filming, but not the accompanying pressure.

"I was focused on work for too long, to the point where my life was falling apart. I needed to take time to build foundations in my life, like friends, family, and a home. Without that, the fear of having gaps between projects would drive me to keep going, and that's not healthy," she emphasized. Watson had previously admitted in an interview last year that she "wasn't happy acting" and "felt trapped."

Meanwhile, Emma Watson gained global recognition for her role as Hermione Granger in the ‘Harry Potter’ series and has since received acclaim for her performances in films like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Little Women’. Her role in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was particularly successful, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.

Emma Watson rose to stardom with her role as Hermione Granger in all eight installments of the ‘Harry Potter’ film series from 2001 to 2011. Beyond her acting career, she is an active advocate for women's rights and has served as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Watson pursued her education alongside her acting career, earning a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Brown University.