Emma Watson explains ‘soul-destroying’ detail that saw her stop acting

Emma Watson has revealed the 'soul-destroying' detail she does not miss about acting.

Best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, Watson was once a regular fixture in several blockbuster and indie titles in Hollywood.

But in a new interview, the British actress has spoken about the reasons why she hasn't been in a movie for a number of years and why she chose to step back from the industry.

The last big screen title she was part of was Little Women in 2019, though she also acted in and directed a short film for Prada three years ago.

Now 35, the Beauty and the Beast star has spoken about the highs and lows of acting after a few years of reflection away from the camera.

Emma Watson was in the spotlight for over a decade following her breakout role as Hermione Granger (Warner Bros./Newsmakers)

Speaking to Hollywood Authentic in an interview published on Sunday (21 September), she said: "In some ways I really won the lottery [with acting], and what happened to me is so unusual," when asked about if she missed acting or not.

But while she enjoys being on set, there's one aspect of the job which the actress does not miss.

"But a bigger component than the actual job itself is the promotion and selling of that piece of work, this piece of art. The balance of that can get quite thrown off," she admitted.

Watson added: "I think I’ll be honest and straightforward, and say: I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying."

But she did emphasise that she 'very much' misses acting, saying: "Getting to just completely forget about everything else in the world other than that one moment - it’s such an intense form of meditation. Because you just cannot be anywhere else. It’s so freeing."

The Harry Potter star also noted in the rare interview, that actors aren't given 'very long' to rehearse though she does like the feeling of doing the 'little of the bit that I actually enjoyed'.

"I miss that profoundly. But I don’t miss the pressure. I forgot it was a lot of pressure," she said.

Watson doesn't miss 'selling things' (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Apparently, Watson's ventured into doing plays with friends, which she also considered stressful even though it wasn't going to be in front of a large audience.

But in an ominous teaser, she claimed she was 'working on something that I've never done before', adding no more than that about the potential project.

The years out of the spotlight has also positively affected Watson's mental and physical health, pointing out: "I think what’s interesting about being an actor is, there’s a tendency to sort of fracture yourself into multiple personalities," adding that she would put a face on as part of her 'public persona' in the past.

"Shedding the multiple identities has freed up so much space, I think, for me to be a better sister, daughter, friend, granddaughter and then artist. And someone who’s trying to do some critical thinking of her own," Watson claimed.