Emma Watson recently announced that she will be taking a year off from acting , and explained to Paper Magazine why she needs the break.
Not only does Watson want to take some time for herself, she also wants to focus on her work with the HeforShe gender equality campaign. When she’s not working with the campaign, Watson said she is dedicated to read a book a week as part of her book club called Our Shared Shelf.
“I’m taking a year away from acting to focus on two things, really,” Watson told feminist writer Bell Hooks.
“My own personal development is one,” Watson continued. “I know that you read a book a day. My own personal task is to read a book a week, and also to read a book a month as part of my book club. I’m doing a huge amount of reading and study just on my own.”
Emma went on to explain that, while she thought about going back to school to get her formal education, she realized she was learning a lot more, and a lot more quickly, reading and studying on her own.
Super honoured to be interviewed by @BellHooks https://t.co/rz6GDIZR2W pic.twitter.com/W97DZ1EpP6
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) February 19, 2016
“I almost thought about going and doing a year of gender studies, then I realized that I was learning so much by being on the ground and just speaking with people and doing my reading,” she explained. “That I was learning so much on my own. I actually wanted to keep on the path that I’m on. I’m reading a lot this year, and I want to do a lot of listening.”
Aside from her studying and reading, Emma Watson, who was named a Goodwill Ambassador for U.N. Women in July, hopes to take advantage of her year off by working with the HeforShe campaign , which is an organization that is “inviting people around the world to stand together to create a bold, visible force for gender equality,” according to the organizations official website. The HeforShe symbol is a combination of the traditional gender signs to create a new symbol to demonstrate “shared humanity.” According to the site, “Its dynamic shape and strong contrast remind us what’s possible when unique individuals stand together for the benefit of all.”
“HeForShe wants every voice to be heard in classrooms and corner offices around the world. Everyone has a say. Everyone has a role. Every unique contribution is essential to achieving gender equality.”
“This January, our HeForShe IMPACT champions are ten CEOs who for the first time will be releasing to the media what their companies look like internally,” she said. “So how many CEOs are male or female, the gender wage gap. We’ll be making all of these statements completely transparent, which is huge. It’s never been done before.”
“I’ll also take another field trip in the next two or three months,” she continued. “We are organizing a HeForShe arts week, a university tour, and launching the HeForShe website. It’s a lot. There’s a lot to do.”
.@EmWatson is quitting acting?! Only for this year! Read about what her plans are! -> https://t.co/PqBxPFDsZo pic.twitter.com/JGI6vf9TBB
— MuggleNet.com (@MuggleNet) February 21, 2016
Although she is preparing to take a year off from acting, Emma Watson still has several movies that are due out this year. Watson’s Colonia is due out in 2016, along with Regression, which she stars in alongside Ethan Hawke. The Circle with Tom Hanks is will also be released sometime in 2016, and then in 2017, Watson will portray Belle in Beauty and the Beast .
[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]
