“Harry Potter”‘s Emma Watson Dishes on College Life

Despite being one of the most popular (and richest) young movie stars, “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson isn’t planning to abandon her studies at Brown University soon.

“I get some amazing offers to act, and sometimes it's hard to say, "No, I'm going to stay here and do my homework,"” the college sophomore recently told Parade. “People are like, "What do you mean she's not available?" I may do some theater next summer, but this college experience is really important to me, and I won't give it up for anything. I'm not going to school just for the academics--I wanted to share ideas, to be around people who are passionate about learning.”

Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the movie series, admitted that life in college is different compared to the one she had on a movie set. 

"When you're filming, someone needs to know where you are every second of the day; here no one tells me what time I can have lunch, when I can go to the bathroom. It's incredibly empowering and liberating. My friends think I'm crazy because I get so much joy out of really simple pleasures like staying up late talking or deciding to go for a walk."

More importantly, the 20-year-old is learning something that she hadn’t experienced in a decade while filming the "Harry Potter" movies for most of her young life. “Fun is something I've undervalued in the last 10 years. I never made time for it, yet it's so important to your health and general happiness. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have to learn to be good at having fun.”

The actress recently admitted to British Vogue that she was shocked to learn that she was worth $32 million--she had previously received an allowance of $75 per week. "By the third or fourth film, the money was starting to get serious," she told the magazine. "I had no idea. I felt sick, very emotional."

Watson will be starring in the last of the Harry Potter films, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” whose first part will premiere on Nov. 19.
 

Selected Readings: Parade, People

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