Emma

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson was born in Paris France to British parents Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson who were both lawyers. At the age five she moved from London to Oxfordshire where she attended The Dragon School. Emma chose to be an actor at age six. For several years she was enrolled in the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts part-time school. In the school, she was taught singing, dancing and acting. In a school play and the stage of a Stagecoach production, Emma took her role as lead actress at 10, and acted. The casting process began in 1999 in the production of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001) the film adaptation of British writer J.K. Rowling's bestselling novel. Emma was discovered by agent via her Oxford teacher. After eight auditions consistently, director David Heyman told Emma and other applicants Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint that they were cast to play the three leads Hermione Granger Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Emma's first film on the screen was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, released in 2001. The film is 2001's top production, and it broke records at the opening and the very first weekend. Critics have praised both the film as well as the performances by the three principal young actors. The Daily Telegraph in Britain, which is widely distributed, called her performance commendable. In the following days, Emma was shortlisted for five prizes for her work in the film and was awarded her the Young Artist Award for Leading Actress Young in an feature Film.