Emma Watson has spent most of her life under the spotlight, but her latest role is taking her behind the scenes—and it’s causing a little bit of sibling friction!
The Harry Potter alum and her brother, Alex Watson, are officially bringing their luxury spirit, Renais Gin, to the United States. While the duo shares a deep bond, Alex is getting candid about what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling.
In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, Alex admits that while the partnership is “lovely,” it hasn’t been without its growing pains. The main source of their workplace drama? Emma’s famously high standards.
“Emma’s definitely a bit of a perfectionist, which can be quite challenging,” Alex tells PEOPLE with a laugh.
The siblings’ new venture has already sparked a massive wave of viral buzz on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). Fans are obsessed with seeing a new side of Emma, who hasn’t just put her name on the bottle—she actually directed the brand’s stunning U.S. commercial.
Alex explains that he tends to be the “pragmatic” one of the pair, which leads to them “butting heads” when their creative visions don’t align. However, he views the friction as a sign of how much they both care about the project.
Seeing his -year-old sister pivot from Hollywood icon to entrepreneur has been a highlight for Alex. He notes that Emma spent the vast majority of her life—from age to —filming nearly non-stop.
“I think when you pause and take a moment and step outside of that, you can then start telling your own stories,” Alex says. “She’s a very bright, multi-talented person… it’s really important to step out and express yourself in other ways.”
This creative freedom is a breath of fresh air for Emma. She previously admitted to the Financial Times that she “wasn’t very happy” during her last major film press tour, feeling “caged” by a lack of creative control. With Renais, she is finally the one calling the shots.
Of course, the Watson household wouldn’t be complete without a little healthy competition. When asked who mixes a better cocktail, Alex isn’t ready to hand over the crown to his sister just yet.
“She’s such a little nerd, she’ll just go in and study something,” he jokes. “I’m very competitive… so it is me for now, but it could very well be her by next week.”
The brand is a true family affair, inspired by the vineyards their father, Chris Watson, planted in Chablis, France, over years ago. Chris even makes frequent cameos on their social media, much to the delight of the “Potterhead” community.
“Getting to spend time with my dad and my sister doing this is honestly so cool,” Alex says. “I’ll always be very grateful for this period of time.”
As Renais hits shelves at Total Wines in California and ships to states, Alex has one final mission for his American fans: convincing them that “gin martinis are the way forward.” Clashing or not, this sibling duo seems to have found the perfect recipe for success.
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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