Emma Watson On Feelings Of Inadequacy, Finding Her Purpose, And Shrugging Off Imposter Syndrome
Emma Watson has been a notable starlet from the time she was a child, and, although one would think that the now 25-year-old was always suited for the silver screen and meant to be in the spotlight, the Harry Potter star communicates that she really isn’t sure that she has ever been suited or deserving of recognition. In an interview with Vogue U.K., Watson responded to a question in regards to whether acting has always come naturally.
“It’s something I’ve really wrestled with. I’ve gone back and I’ve quizzed my parents. When I was younger, I just did it. I just acted. It was just there… It was just something I did.”
The talented and gorgeous Beauty and the Beast star also admits that often times she actually feels out of place when praised for her acting abilities when out on the Hollywood scene.
“[N]ow when I receive recognition for my acting, I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I tend to turn in on myself. I feel like an imposter.”
Watson describes the psychological tendencies which many successful women in the industry have admitted to experiencing at one time or another in their careers. As Vanity Fair relays, “imposter syndrome [is]a psychological phenomenon in which people don’t believe they deserve their successes,” and other notable figures, such as Tina Fey and Maya Angelou, have expressed similar statements outlining their feelings of inadequacy.
However, Emma Watson notes that she most certainly found her calling and a sense of belonging, which is substantially more meaningful to the young beauty in the position she now holds as a U.N. ambassador. Prior to her giving her first prepared speech before the assembly, Emma makes mention of the fact that she experienced nerves and feelings of insecurity, yet she rallied and delivered her speech with confidence.
“I was in my hotel room, thinking, I can’t do this. I was just terrified.”
A friend assisted in Watson’s preparation via Skype, saying, “Go through it again and ask yourself, if you were hit by a bus tomorrow, would you be comfortable with every single line?”
Ms. Watson was flawless in the delivery of the speech and spoke with a meaningful conviction that helped her to find her sense of purpose.
“Everything clicked into place, in a way that it hadn’t before. I understood what I’m here to do and knew where to channel all this energy that has been coming at me. I now feel this sense of peace. People say that I’m different since I did it.”
Emma Watson has certainly gained the respect and admiration of individuals internationally since she took the brave step within the U.N.’s assembly, and can absolutely shrug off the fears of inadequacy because this talent is no imposter.
[Photo by Larry Busacca / Getty Images for TIME]
