Emma Watson Puts Finishing School Above Film Roles

While all the focus in the Emma Watson universe seems to be the actress’s potentially-scandalous split with former beau William Adamowicz, what’s lost in the shuffle is why Ms. Watson is even on the gossip radar: her acting.

It’s something she’ll be doing less of these days, courtesy of her college schedule.

“Emma is in demand with Hollywood directors but has so much to focus on with her studies, that she has had to pass on a few things – she simply can’t do ­everything,” a source told the Mirror.

“It’s tough but she believes it was the right thing.”

That’s refreshing, and somewhat bold, in an entertainment culture that’s always focused on “what have you done for me lately?”. Something tells us Emma Watson, the British GQ’s Woman of the Year, will be just fine when she gets back to making movies.

Emma is currently finishing up her English degree at Brown, and is scheduled to graduate this May. Watson had previously enrolled at Brown in 2010 but had dropped out, although not because of rumored bullying. She then enrolled at Oxford but was forced to withdraw to film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Emma returned to Brown at the beginning of 2013 and is in it for the long haul, it appears.

Emma Watson next hits the screen in Noah with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Connelly. Emma plays Ila, adopted daughter of Russell Crowe’s eponymous biblical character. Just when you thought everything biblical under the sun had been done, director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) decided to prove you wrong. Mind you, Noah has been in the works for several years (production was ironically delayed by flooding). Dakota Fanning was originally cast as Ila but had to leave due to scheduling conflicts; Emma Watson took on the role in the summer of 2012.

With Noah’s scheduled release of March 28, it is unclear whether or not Emma Watson will be joining the promotional circus. Given Watson’s commitment to her education, it seems unlikely.

What do you think of Emma Watson’s decision to finish her degree over film roles? How has Emma’s career developed since the end of the Harry Potter franchise?