Did Emma Watson’s career begin with Hermione, or after?
On one hand, starring as the bright, bushy-haired witch in the Harry Potter series – the most successful film franchise in history – gave her international exposure thousands of aspiring actors could only dream of. On the other, she was hand-picked out of a school assembly for the auditions, and Watson herself admits that her nine-year-old self wasn’t sure what she was doing at the time.
In the final years of filming Harry Potter, she began to figure out her passions in her free time and even took some time off from acting. Watson distanced herself out of the film business by moving across the ocean to study English literature at Brown University in the United States.
She also immersed herself in different fields such as fashion and beauty by working with Burberry, Lancôme, and People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand. She took a small cameo role in My Week with Marilyn but continued to deliberate whether she wanted to quit acting after Harry Potter.
“I wanted to make a conscious adult decision that this was what I wanted to pursue, because that decision was made for me as a nine-year-old. I had no idea what I wanted. I had no idea who I was really. So I wanted to step away and make sure this is what I wanted to pour my life and my energy and my blood, sweat, and tears into.” – Emma Watson in an Entertainment Weekly interview
Since then, she has fueled her energy into acting, appearing in Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, biblical epic Noah alongside Russell Crowe and a cameo in This is the End. Watson shows no signs of slowing down as she’s rumoured to star in a new Game of Thrones-esque Queen of the Tearling.
When you’re uncertain about your own future, take a victory lap year (or two) – however long it takes. Get your feet wet in different fields, try new classes, and take several different jobs to figure out what you’re passionate about. Once you’ve found what drives you, it’s full speed ahead. While taking the time may feel like a race you’re losing, the time spent training lets you finish strong.
It might be a long race, but we’re with you to the end of it. We’ll even throw water on you as you run past. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for insight, wisdom and notices for when our posts go live.
Image Credit: Huffington Post
