Emma Watson is speaking out about a difficult period in her life. In an interview with the Financial Times, Watson, who hasn’t appeared in a film since 2018’s Little Women, admits she “wasn’t very happy” as an actress.
“I think I felt a bit caged,” Watson, 33, says. “What I found particularly difficult was having to go out and sell something over which I had little control.” To be able to stand in front of a film and have every journalist ask, ‘How does this align with your viewpoint?’ It was very difficult to have to be the face and spokesperson for things in which I was not involved.”
“I was held accountable in a way that I began to find really frustrating because I didn’t have a voice, I didn’t have a say,” she says. “And I realized that all I wanted to do was stand in front of things so that if someone was going to criticize me, I could say, in a way that didn’t make me hate myself, ‘Yes, I screwed up, it was my decision, I should have done better.'”
Despite this, Watson tells the outlet that she will “absolutely” return to acting, beginning with a film that will begin filming early next year.
“I’m content to sit and wait for the right thing to happen.” I enjoy what I do. “It’s finding a way to do it without having to divide myself into different faces and people,” she says. “And I just don’t want to switch into robot mode anymore.”
Watson didn’t often get to return to her family’s vineyard, where they make Renais, their recently launched gin when she was busy with Harry Potter and other projects.
“There was definitely a gap here when Alex took on more of a role here,” Watson says of her younger brother, the gin brand’s founder. “But now that I’m not making films every year, I have a little more time to experiment.” Getting involved with the creative side of the gin has been enjoyable for me because I have a voice and can bring everything I’ve learned to bear. Alex is the gin expert, and Dad is the wine expert, but it’s a pleasure to be asked to participate.”
Returning to France with her brother and father, Chris Watson, allows the actress to experience the “culture here of the harvest.”
“I like coming together with everyone,” she says. “I like the rituals surrounding it, as well as the history and connection with the people here.” It’s about family and community for me, and knowing that there’s somewhere I can return to year after year after year gives me a sense of security.”
