It would seem that some actors were just born to play certain roles. These actors played their roles so well that’s hard to imagine anyone else giving life to these characters.For example, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Tom Hanks portraying Forrest Gump, although originally the role was meant to go to John Travolta.
This is a common occurrence in Hollywood. Sometimes, A-listers reject a certain role and, by doing this, they let other lesser-known actors get their chance to get on the big screen.
This is a great opportunity for some actors, like Christian Bale, to skyrocket their careers. But, for those that turn down roles that end up being a huge success, it’s not so great. That could be the case of Harry Potter star, Emma Watson, who turned down an Oscar-winning role in a musical that made more than $400 million at the box office.
Ever Since She Played Hermione Granger In Harry Potter, Emma Watson Has Transitioned To A Successful Adult Acting Career
Although Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) was Emma Watson’s first professional gig, the young star was no novice to acting. Since she was six, Emma knew she wanted to become an actress.
That’s why she attended the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a part-time theater school where she studied singing, dancing, and acting. By the time she auditioned for the role of Hermione Granger, Emma had starred in a handful of school plays and productions.
From 1999 to 2009, Emma Watson gave life to Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise. This would not only be her breakout role, but also the role that would launch her to international fame. After the last Harry Potter movie came out, Emma decided to attend college.
In addition to the Harry Potter films, Watson has starred in many other projects. Some of her most well-known movies include Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Bling Ring (2013), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2017), and Little Women (2019). In addition to acting, Emma Watson is well-known for her work as an activist for women's rights.
Emma Watson Was Offered The Leading Role In La La Land But Turned It Down
Emma Watson not only knows how to act but also has shown she can sing very well. It’s no wonder the Harry Potter star was cast as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast life-action remake. However, this role came with a cost. In order to play Belle, Emma had to turn down the leading role in La La Land.
The reason why Emma Watson decided to turn down the leading role in La La Land in order to star in Beauty and the Beast was that she had grown up watching Disney movies. So, the actress just couldn’t pass up the chance to play such an iconic Disney princess as Belle.
Shockingly, Watson had turned down the role Cinderella just a couple of years before. In an interview for Grazia, the Harry Potter star revealed why she chose to play Belle over this other Disney princess: “When they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did. She remains curious, compassionate, and open-minded. And that's the kind of woman I would want to embody as a role model, given the choice.”
Does Emma Watson Regret Now Starring In La La Land?
Although Emma Watson has never openly talked about how she felt about turning down the leading role in La La Land, it would seem the Harry Potter star doesn’t regret this decision.
It is true that Emma Watson lost a lot by turning down this role. After all, La La Land made over $447 million at the box office worldwide and Emma Stone won her first Oscar for playing Mia in this film. But, Watson got to fulfill a life-long dream when she got to play a Disney princess instead.
And, a couple of years later, Emma Watson and Emma Stone got even, in a sense. In 2019, she landed a role in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women after Emma Stone turned it down.