Emma Watson - Spotlight

Girls' Life, Oct-Nov, 2002 by Alicia Clott

AGE: 12. HOMETOWN: Oxford, England. HER ROLE: Feisty, goody-goody witch-in-training Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in theaters Nov. 15. THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HERMIONE: Emma made her film debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (she had only done school stage productions up to that point), and beat cut many aspiring actresses in England's "star search" to land the part.

"I didn't even go to acting school, just a normal average school. They had already been through millions and trillions of girls in the country. I kept auditioning until I got the part." ON HERMIONE: "She gets on everyone's nerves. She talks in class all the time, and that is annoying. Inside, she is very nice and more laid-back in this movie." HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Hermione is a dictionary-she uses long words I don't understand." HER BELIEFS: Emma doesn't believe in witches, but she is superstitious. THE ULTIMATE SPELL: "I would make myself invisible so I could sneak into concerts and be near rock sta rs." HER FAVORITE CHARACTER: Gilderoy Lockhart, the new professor in Chamber of Secrets. "He plays such a fantastic character, and he's hilarious. I get to act dreamy in scenes because I'm in love with him." ON HER CO-STARS: Does Emma crush on Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) and Rupert Grint (Ron)? "We get along great, but I don't have a crush on them. I know them too well. I do have to keep them on their toes and show them who's boss." HER HAIR: She doesn't have curly, frizzy hair in real life. "It is curled and boofed up [for the movie]. I have a hairpiece, too. It is not a wig!" HER HOUSE: If she could choose, Emma would be in Slytherin instead of Gryffindor at Hogwarts because she'd have more fun. HER PAVE PET ON THE SET: The owls. If she owned one she could keep in touch with her friends. A LIFE-CHANGING ROLE: Though Emma is now a huge star in a big movie, she says she's remained true to herself and that her life hasn't changed that much. "I get recognized, but you get used to that. There are worse things in l ife than being recognized." FUTURE PROJECTS: Emma is contracted to star in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which starts shooting in February. "I think I would like to venture out and do other films but, at the moment, I'm going with the flow."