New scans and a new interview // 29 June 2007

Hello EW.netters,

Thanks to Emma’s diary for sending us scans from the Belgian Cine Tele Revue, which recently interviewed Emma.

The interview was so interesting that I translated it so that you could all read it. Enjoy!

“The Order of the Phoenix is a much darker movie. Did you feel it on set?
Yes, the plot goes darker and more tortured with each movie. But a lot of this depth and darkness is also due to David Yates, the director. He’s very emotional and subtle.

Have the HP movies influence your teenage years? Do you feel you’ve been losing your best years?
Yes and no. I don’t have the kind of freedom that most teenagers my age have. I can’t do whatever I want. Whether I like it or not, I’m constantly in the public eye, even at school. So I have to be kind of wary, but I’m not complaining. After all, maybe it’s a good thing.

Have you ever thought about giving up on your role?
Yes, a few times. It sometimes gives me headaches. Filming takes so long and is so demanding that I have wondered if all those efforts were worth the sacrifice of my time with my friends and family.

What do you miss the most during filming?
Not to be at home often, and to have very little leisure time, because of the school work I have to catch up with. This stressing way of life that makes you feel aware of your responsibilities very early. Too early, maybe. But again, I don’t feel like a victim. After all these years, it’s still a lot of fun for me to go from Hermione to Emma and from Emma to Hermione.

How do you deal with filming and school work?
I have a tutor on set. And every time the schedule allows, I go back to school to catch up with my school work. The only solution is to talk with my teachers after class and to work harder than the others.

Do you think you’ll go on acting after the end of the HP series?
Yes. As long as I like the roles that I’m offered.

What kind of roles would you like to play?
I have a soft spot for women who go through hard times but make it in spite of men. And for stories that are connected to reality.

Are you scared about being typecast?
No, because I’ll change physically. As long as I’m a teenager and I play little girls, I’ll be seen as Hermione. But once I become a woman, the public won’t see me this way anymore. At least, I hope that people will see beyond the stereotype. I’ve been lucky to play Hermione, it gave me an early experience. It’ll help me evolve more rapidly in this business.

How do you deal with fame on a daily basis?
I’ve been dealing with it almost since I was a child. I’ve practically known nothing else, so fame isn’t a problem for me. It’s best to begin young. At 11, it’s incredible to be recognised and celebrated. After, you get used to it.

Ever since you became a star, have your friends been treating you differently?
My real friends, no. But people who don’t know me well don’t know how to react. But at school, they’re used to me being here. They see me everyday, they don’t think about Hermione, and they don’t treat me differently.

Are you as caring as Hermione towards your friends?
Yes, I’m very attached to their friendship. Being a loyal friend is one of my qualities.

How do you stay in touch with your friends when you’re filming?
It’s all a matter of organisation, and motivation and emails!

Are boys more interested in you now that you’re famous?
No. Boys don’t know how to approach me. And, without being distant, I’m very independent so it’s hard to approach me.

Will Ron and Hermione finally admit their feelings?
Nothing’s sure. And I can’t tell you anything because I haven’t read a line of HP and the Deathly Hallows.

If you weren’t an actress, what would you like to do?
I think I’d have lots of activities. I’ve always had difficulties staying concentrated on the same thing for a long time. My parents are both lawyers, but I don’t think I’ll become one.

What did you dream of when you were a child?
Becoming an actress.

What did you buy with your first wages?
Everything that I earn is locked on a bank account until I’m legal. But each week, I receive a little sum of money with which I bought a laptop.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy skiing, being with my friends or my family, chatting. Going to the cinema or listening to music.

Do you enjoy travelling?
Yes, I really like going on a plane and get to the other side of the world in a matter of hours. I recently visited Scotland with my parents. China, Japan and Hungary for the previous movies promotion. I stayed longer in China and Japan because I’ve always been fascinated by these countries. The US, for promotion. What else? Oh yes, France. The country in which I love spending time the most. But also Amsterdam, Russia, the Maldives Islands.

What is the weirdest thing a fan ever asked you?
To send him £50, which I didn’t really want to do. In a restaurant, I’ve been asked to sign a plate. I’ve also been asked to sign an autograph on somebody’s skin.

How do people react when they see you on the street in London? Do they scream, do they touch you?
People in the UK are very respectful. Americans tend to scream, to clap, to make a big deal about it, and it can be embarrassing.

You’ll soon leave for university. Any idea what you’ll be studying?
Philosophy or English literature.

How do your parents cope with their daughter’s fame?
At the beginning, with difficulty and scepticism. But they grew used to it. There’s nothing more alarming for parents than to admit that their daughter is famous at 11, especially since the business reputation and the tabloids aren’t really reassuring. But they’re proud of me.

Do you think you’re spoiled by your success?
Until very recently, I never really measured how lucky I was. Now I thank my lucky star everyday. Being picked among hundreds of candidates was a miracle. Just thinking about all those talented actors that don’t get a job is enough to convince myself that I really am very lucky.
 
Were you already a HP fan when you were picked?
Yes, I was in the middle of the third book when I was picked.

What made them chose you for the role of Hermione?
I corresponded to their idea of Hermione. More by my way of playing her than by my physical appearance. But I think what was determining for them was how perfectly compatible our three personalities were. Very early on, I was confronted to Rupert and Dan so that they could see how we functioned as a trio. After all, we were supposed to become friends until the end of the series!

What did you think about Daniel Radcliffe’s choice to appear naked on stage for Equus?
It’s very brave of him. I admire him for daring to brave the critics and taking the risk to break his image when nothing required him to. No need for publicity, no feeling like wanting to become a pin-up boy. He did it simply because he believed in that role.

Who would you take with you on a desert island?
Dan, probably. He’s very talkative, and he would save me from being bored. But why not Rupert? He’s very funny, he would make me laugh.”


AcedMagazine.com also got to interview Emma:

 “ACED: Each film gets more and more intense, does that change or alter your preparation at all before you get in front of the lens?

Emma: I’d like to say that it does, but I actually think I’ve gotten progressively worse. On this film Dan, Rupert, and myself in particular just can’t stop laughing. It’s awful, we’ve ruined how many millions of pounds of film stock?! There’s just something about this film, I’d like to say we’ve really been working hard to get into character and all that, but we’ve really just been endlessly laughing.

ACED: Are you excited that Hermione actually gets to see some action in this installment?

Emma: YES! Oh my god! Seriously! There’s only a certain amount of looking concerned at the edge of a scene that I can do. It was really nice, it brought me back to the first film, I was like “YES!.” We’ve just started the final sequence, and I’ve got dirt on my face and blood, I’m running around. Yes. This is definitely the place I want Hermione to be. It’s really really nice to get back to the action, it’s great.

ACED: Who would win in a duel between yourself, Dan, and Rupert?

Emma: Between our characters? Or Ourselves?

ACED: Yourselves.

Emma: A tricky one…umm..If I say me it’s going to sound really arrogant, so it’s going to have to be one of the boys. Then if I pick eather one of them, then I’m going to be in trouble with the other one. So basically I just can’t win, therefore..I have decided it would be a draw.

ACED: Let me ask you..how many kids do you think Ron and Hermione will have?

Emma: (Laughter) ummmmm. Well I don’t know…Weasleys do have big families. I’m not sure how Hermione will feel about that (Laughter).”

Have a nice day,

[ Neve ]

posted by Neve on Friday, June 29th, 2007, filed under Uncategorized.