In March 2017, Emma Watson made her big screen debut as a Disney princess, starring in Beauty and the Beast as Belle. But some might be surprised to learn that she was actually first offered the role of Cinderella in Disney's live-action remake, but she turned it down. Fortunately, that was for the best, as she told Total Film, "When they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did" (via Independent).
Of the bookish princess, Watson, ever the feminist, added, "In a strange way, she challenges the status quo of the place she lives in, and I found that really inspiring. And also, she manages to keep her integrity and have a completely independent point of view."
Besides featuring a strong, smart female character, Beauty and the Beast also offered Watson a chance to flex her singing and dancing abilities. "It's a totally different thing from acting in a way. There's nothing to hide behind," Watson shared with Good Morning America. "It's your voice and yeah, I felt very sort of naked doing it for the first time so I think that was the hardest."
Clearly, Watson, like her famous Harry Potter character, is not afraid of a challenge.
