Emma Watson Nearly Backed Out Of ‘Harry Potter’ For It Didn’t Give Her Much Freedom

Filming Harry Potter might appear fancy, but Emma Watson nearly backed out of the franchise. At the early age of nine, the British actress bid adieu to her childhood because filming for the renowned franchise came with grueling schedules.

In a previous interview with Entertainment Weekly, Emma revealed what it was like to work on the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels. Based on her statements, the experience wasn’t always magical, because her schedule was controlled by adults.

“I have such a structure when I’m working on Potter. I get told what time I get picked up. I get told what time I can eat, when I have time to go to the bathroom. Every single second of my day is not in my power.”

While she did not want to sound as if she was whining, Emma claimed that the experience “has definitely been the most intense grueling period of filmmaking” she ever did.

It was previously reported that when Emma, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint were filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, they were mostly wet because of the script’s requirements.

It was recently revealed as well that Emma had to wear fake teeth in one scene to make her resemble her novel counterpart. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone director Chris Columbus told the Entertainment Weekly that the book described Hermione Granger with an overbite. However, the team eventually opted to deviate from the description, sensing that Emma wouldn’t be able to act comfortably with the faux accessory.

“It was a big thing in the books about [Hermione’s] teeth. She sort of had an overbite, so [Emma’s] wearing fake teeth in that scene and I realized that she’s never going to be able to perform with these huge fake teeth in her mouth for the rest of the movie. So if you look closely, you can see some fake teeth.”

Stories have emerged that the cast members were also given clothing restrictions in their contracts. Emma was reportedly not allowed to have piercings or tattoos to not ruin the spirit of Rowling’s novels. This might be a nightmare for a teenager, that’s why when Harry Potter ended, Emma debuted her pixie haircut.

The Ballet Shoes actress ended up honoring her commitment to the franchise. She might have enjoyed her independence a bit late, but she went on to do meaningful things. She pursued a literature degree at Brown University and became an advocate for gender equality. The U.N. later appointed her as its Women Goodwill Ambassador. As if these aren’t impressive enough, Emma also started her own feminist book club and acquired certification to become a yoga and meditation teacher.

Playing the role of Hogwart’s brightest witch took up most of Emma’s formative years and despite the sacrifices she had to make, she told The Telegraph that she still considered herself lucky for being a part of the franchise.

“None of us could say that we predicted this kind of love and recognition. It’s just incredible. I’m just so unbelievably proud to have been part of this. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Just watching the compilation of all the past films was really emotional for me.”

Emma’s co-star, Daniel, likewise told the publication that there will never be a single scene in the franchise that “won’t trigger a series of memories.” While he admits that he doesn’t want to reprise his role as The Boy Who Lived, Daniel is also grateful that Harry Potter allowed him to explore other opportunities.

The Imperium actor recently made headlines after admitting that he’s barely touched his Harry Potter earnings. For him, his fortune allowed him to act on independent films because he never needed to worry about money.

[Featured Image by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images]