When it came to our Girl Power issue, we knew who we had to put on our cover. She’s young, successful and, on top of it all, a fervent fighter for women’s rights. So who better to front this issue than the stellar Ms Watson?
When it came to our Girl Power issue, we knew who we had to put on our cover. She’s young, successful and, on top of it all, a fervent fighter for women’s rights. So who better to front this issue than the stellar Ms Watson?
We’ve all heard the story by now – Emma Watson answers a question correctly during a lesson in Brown University and a classmate goes, “Score 20 points for Gryffindor!” While some may never get over Emma as Hermione, the actress herself has sure proven she’s no longer the little girl with bushy brown hair. On top of a booming acting and modeling career (and an Ivy League degree), the 25-year-old is now a loud and clear voice for the cause of gender equality.
With her role as a United Nations (UN) Women Goodwill Ambassador, she has shown everyone the importance of standing up for themselves and others. The best part? Despite her fame and fortune, she constantly reminds us she’s very much the Emma we’ve loved since 2001.
A compelling voice
Emma is now with the UN, but her commitment to causes started way earlier. At 19, she joined fair trade apparel company People Tree as a brand ambassador. And she wasn’t just a pretty face there – she travelled to the slums of Bangladesh to find out the difference fair trade makes in alleviating poverty and launched a collection targeted at young people like her.
Despite an early start in humanitarian work, Emma still had insecurities when she was appointed to launch the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign for gender equality last year. “You might be thinking who is this Harry Potter girl? And what is she doing up on stage at the UN? It’s a good question and trust me, I have been asking myself the same thing. I don’t know if I am qualified to be here. All I know is that I care about this problem. And I want to make it better,” said Emma in her speech at the launch.
We’re also thankful Emma’s not one of those feminazis who label all men as misogynists. She understands the importance of respecting both genders and invites everyone to join her. “How can we effect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?
“I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too – reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and, in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves,” said Emma in her HeForShe speech. Amen, we say.
A passionate actress
When it comes to her job, Emma is equally passionate. She no longer works for money (thanks to her Harry Potter earnings) and the roles she tackles reflect what she loves and stands for.
After being good-girl Hermione for a decade, Emma’s recent roles have been somewhat rebellious in nature. But it’s not because she’s eager to prove her coming-of-age. For all the characters she takes on, Emma puts personal meaning into them.
In a GQ interview, Emma reveals that she fought to portray the role of wild-child Nicki in The Bling Ring because she felt for the show’s underlying message. “When I read the script and I realised that essentially it was a meditation on fame and what it’s become to our society, I had to do it.”
Of course, she’s not all about social causes. Like any other girl, being a Disney princess is something on Emma’s checklist as well. So when she got the lead role in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast, the actress announced on Facebook, “My six-year-old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can’t wait for you to see it.” Well, if there’s anyone more excited than Emma, it’s definitely us.
Our favourite girl-next-door
With such a stellar resume, we’re tempted to put Emma on a pedestal and bow at her feet. But that’s not going to please her because all she really wants is to be treated like any other. Opening up about her post-Potter fame, Emma reveals the unwanted attention she received while going about her day-to-day activities. “Until the age of 18, I would take the Oxford Tube, which is a public bus. Then it got to the point where the fact that I was on the bus would spread from one end to the other. I’d think, Why am I doing this to myself?” said Emma in an interview with W magazine.
Like most of us, Emma studied what she was interested in, partied with her friends and dated a fellow student in college. But unlike many of us, who would whip our phones out at parties to snap pics and post them to Instagram or Snapchat, Emma would much rather keep her private life on the down-low. And she’s made it pretty clear that her true friends would respect that. “I threw my 20th birthday party at Brown (University), and I didn’t even have to say to anyone not to put pictures on Facebook,” she said in a Marie Claire interview. “Not a single picture went up. That was when I knew I’d found a solid group of friends, and I felt like I belonged.”
As opposed to celebs who exploit their popularity to grab headlines, Emma’s desire to keep things quiet is refreshing. But what’s even better is that she uses her fame to promote social causes.
So ladies, it’s time for us to take a leaf out of Emma’s book. No matter which cause you support, know that you have the power to make change. So stand tall, speak up, and let’s do Emma proud.
For F’s Sake!
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Anna Kendrick Ryan Gosling F for feminism, of course. Emma may be the face of HeForShe, but she’s certainly not the only star who supports the cause. Here’s a look at other celebs who stand for gender equality.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The film star has been silent for some time, but he’s defo not slacking in this department. He posted a video on his Youtube channel which told the world his definition of feminism: “To me, it just means that your gender doesn’t have to define who you are. You can be whatever you want to be, whoever you want to be, regardless of your gender.”
Anna Kendrick
In an interview with The Daily Beast, the Pitch Perfect actress revealed her thoughts on the word “feminism”. “It’s practically become a curse word. Somebody says, ‘Oh, you’re being such a feminist,’ and you’re supposed to be, like, ‘No, I’m not.’ Why are we afraid of that word? It exists and we can’t get rid of it, so let’s fight for it and embrace it.”
Ryan Gosling
Memes of Ryan and feminist quotes have been floating around and one of them says, “Hey girl. Tell me to go make you a sandwich.” Granted, he didn’t actually say that, but the man himself did speak up for women when the oral sex scene in his film Blue Valentine generated controversy. “It’s misogynistic in nature to try and control a woman’s sexual presentation of self. I consider this an issue that is bigger than this film,” said Ryan in a statement to the Motion Picture Association of America.
