The phenomenally talented Emma Watson who became synonymous with the Harry Potter franchise didn’t succeed out of the blue. Initially harboring a passion for acting through school plays, Watson prepared herself for the franchise by spending consecutive hours going over her audition and perfecting it.
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | image: Warner Bros.
However, surprisingly, her first screen test was perhaps the only time she watched herself perform, for Emma Watson wasn’t comfortable with seeing herself on screen. Like many Hollywood actors including Johnny Depp, Watson claimed to be nervous to watch her performance on screen. But then one Harry Potter star offered her some sound advice that helped her overcome her fear.
Maggie Smith’s Golden Advice Helped Emma Watson in the Long Run
Emma Watson‘s rise to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise initially began with school plays and short performances. Thereafter sharpening her skills, Watson appeared for the first screen test for Sorcerer’s Stone, where she faced significant challenges. However, after spending several hours preparing, Watson finally perfected her reading with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, and delved into the role of the brilliant witch, for eight consecutive films.
However, despite perfecting her performance and becoming a global icon, Emma Watson surprisingly harbored a newfound discomfort with watching herself on screen. This common nervousness is often shared by many Hollywood actors including Johnny Depp, who have admitted to never watching themselves perform. But for Watson, this fright nearly undermined her performance, until she got golden advice from her co-star and mentor Maggie Smith.
Emma Watson with Maggie Smith and Daniel Radcliffe | image: Warner Bros.
As Emma Watson’s unease with her on-screen presence became a major hurdle in her career, Maggie Smith channeled her inner Professor McGonagall to help the young actress overcome her fear. According to Watson’s interview during Late Night With David Letterman, the actress recalled how she often felt nervous to watch herself on screen, even as a child actor. But then it was Smith who offered her some sound advice that helped her in the long run, ever since.
You know, it’s funny, I used to in the early Harry Potter films. I would get very nervous. I would kind of twist myself up like a pretzel in my seat and I’d bite my nails and everything. [But then] I’m pretty sure it was Maggie Smith who said this to me.
This 10 years ago now so I, sometimes I struggle remembering. But uh – she said, you know, she basically said ‘How do you expect to get better if you don’t watch your performances?’ And I said, ‘Well that’s a good point’ and yeah. She kind of just told me to get a grip and since then I have watched my performances.
Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies | Image: Warner Bros.
The advice that Emma Watson received from her esteemed co-star, Maggie Smith, became instrumental in overcoming this fear. Smith, known for her seasoned career and wisdom, helped Watson with some sage advice that still continues to resonate in her acting journey. Smith’s counsel was straightforward yet profound, which allowed Watson to develop a healthier relationship with her performances and embrace her role with confidence.
Hollywood Stars Renowned for Harboring Similar Fear as Emma Watson
Unfortunately, there are several Hollywood A-listers who have failed to overcome their fear or discomfort of watching themselves on screen, unlike Emma Watson. Perhaps, they all need proper counseling from Maggie Smith. But all jokes apart, Johnny Depp turns out to be one of the many actors who have admitted to never watching his performances. Associated with the wizarding world for his role as Gellert Grindelwald, Depp had once told The Independent,
In a way, once my job is done on a film, it’s really none of my business. I stay as far away as I possibly can… I don’t like watching myself.
Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | image: Warner Bros.
Similarly, even Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon had revealed in an interview with the Daily Express, how she dislikes watching her own movies. Claiming to have “absolute amnesia” about all the movies she has ever made, Witherspoon admitted to never watching her performance, because otherwise she “would spiral into a state of self-hate”. Adding to the list, even Tom Hanks had told ABC News that watching his own movies is a “horrible mistake”.
Because you never learn what to do. You only sort of learn what not to do. The thing about looking at the old movies is that they don’t change.
Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatau in The Da Vinci Code | image: Sony Pictures Releasing
The list of actors who struggle with watching their own performances seems to be long, consisting of Javier Bardem, Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Jesse Eisenberg, and more (via BuzzFeed). But as Maggie Smith had advised Emma Watson – by managing self-doubt and learning from the mistakes of their performances can an actor achieve greater success and fulfillment in their careers.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
