Emma Watson clarified what she meant by being 'self-partnered' after being questioned over her relationship status

Emma Watson has explained what she meant when she said she was 'self-partnered' after being asked about her relationship status in an interview.

For many celebrities, being in the public eye means their personal lives are often under the spotlight.

Back in 2019, Emma, now 34, spoke about how she'd had lots of expectations about what her life would look like by age 30, but that it made her 'stressed and anxious' that she hadn't got around to some of them.

During an interview with Vogue, Emma was asked how she felt about where she was in life as she approached the milestone.

The Harry Potter star opened up about how she 'had all these ideas' about where she should be when entering the third decade of her life.

"And I realise it’s because there is suddenly this bloody influx of subliminal messaging around," she said.

"If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out...

"There’s just this incredible amount of anxiety."

She went on to explain that she had never been convinced that people who claimed to be happy while single were actually content with their situation - until she herself realised she was at peace without a significant other.

Emma added: "It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered."

Emma spoke about being 'self-partnered' (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

So, what exactly does this mean?

Well, the term essentially describes a single person who is completely satisfied staying that way - they are fulfilled by themselves and don't feel as though they need a relationship to complete them.

In a later interview, the Beauty and the Beast actress wanted to clarify exactly what she meant by the phrase when she sat down with Vogue again in December 2023, while discussing how she was comfortable with the path she was on in life.

Emma explained her comment wasn't 'necessarily about her celebrating being single' but rather realising that she was appreciative of how she had become so comfortable flying solo.

She said: "Getting to the point when I was 30, I was realising, ‘Oh, maybe I’ve figured out some things about how to care for myself better - maybe quite well, actually'. And taking pride in that."

Emma has recently been linked to Kieran Brown (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Emma has since been linked to fellow Oxford University student, Kieran Brown.

According to US Weekly, Emma - who went back to university to study creative writing - was spotted kissing Kieran last July.

Speaking about her decision to study again, she told British Vogue: "Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision.

"[Choosing] to go back and write and study and get behind the camera was terrifying for me because I’d never done it before. I had always been in front of the camera; I’d always been an actor."