There are very few movie franchises that carry as much weight as the Harry Potter saga, and a large part of that is down to how Emma Watson portrayed Hermione Granger — her replacement has big shoes to fill. For fans of the Potter films as well as the novels, Watson didn’t just play Hermione; she was, in every sense of the word, the character she embodied. So, when the news arrived that the beloved tale would be returning in a new TV adaptation, there was, as expected, skepticism about whether the new actors had what it took, not only to carry the legacy of Harry Potter, but also to make it their own.
Luckily, Arabella Stanton, the young actress cast to replace Watson in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, has already proven that she understands who Hermione is. In addition to playing Hermione in the upcoming TV series, Stanton also lends her voice to the character in the latest, full-cast versions of the Harry Potter audiobooks. It is there that readers can fully appreciate Stanton’s talent and her dedication to the monumental role she has been given. Instead of crumbling under the pressure of expectation, the newcomer fully embraces Hermione’s know-it-all attitude, care, and brilliance.
The trailer for the Harry Potter series has given us a little taste of how Stanton will portray Hermione, but listening to the audiobooks truly showcases what she will bring to her character. When it comes to reboots or remakes, comparisons to the original cast and story will always be drawn. Watson is a huge part of why the Harry Potter franchise is an enduring success, but that doesn’t mean that Stanton cannot handle the role of Hermione Granger with as much grace and intelligence as her predecessor.
Arabella Stanton’s Hermione Performance In The Harry Potter Audiobooks Starts Brilliantly & Gets Better
From the beginning of the new Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audiobook, Stanton captures Hermione’s defining traits with remarkable precision. Her delivery of Hermione’s lines is true to the character and demonstrates that she understands Hermione’s role in the story and her character’s place in the Golden Trio. Stanton fully leans into Hermione’s personality, making her performance as the iconic protagonist convincing right from the start.
As Stanton performs in the audiobooks, she noticeably becomes more comfortable in the role. Her command over her voice improves, and she nails Hermione’s cadence and unique perspective. Stanton’s interactions with Ron and Harry, in particular, not only bring back fond memories about the early days of the Harry Potter story and its adventurous spirit but also prove that she will shine in the series without being eclipsed by her co-stars.
Understandably, Stanton only plays Hermione in the first three Harry Potter audiobooks. Nina Barker-Francis takes on the role from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire onwards, as Hermione becomes a teenager in her last years at Hogwarts. Although Stantononly performs during the first half of Audible’s Harry Potter audiobook series, what she does in the first three novels is enough to impress both audiences familiar with the books and those new to the franchise.
Arabella Stanton Captures Elements Of Emma Watson’s Hermione Without Being A Copy
There are very few ways that a character as iconic as Hermione Granger can be interpreted. Stanton, to her credit, echoes Watson’s performance, but doesn’t slip into imitation. The young actress brings the same bookworm energy that Watson brought to Hermione. Her deliveries are brilliant and have Hermione’s touch of intellectual superiority, particularly when she utters the famous phrase, “We could’ve been killed! Or worse, expelled.”
The Cast & Characters of HBO’s Harry Potter Series | |
|---|---|
Actor | Character |
Dominic McLaughlin | Harry Potter |
Alastair Stout | Ron Weasley |
Arabella Stanton | Hermione Granger |
Nick Frost | Rubeus Hagrid |
John Lithgow | Albus Dumbledore |
Janet McTeer | Minerva McGonagall |
Paapa Essiedu | Severus Snape |
There is undoubtedly something very Emma Watson-like in Stanton’s depiction of Hermione, and that is something that can’t truly be avoided, because she is, after all, playing the same character. Stanton, however, doesn’t mimic Watson. There is a uniqueness to her tone and rhythm that feels natural to her. Sure, she emphasizes familiar quirks, such as Hermione’s excitement at knowing something that her classmates remain willfully ignorant of, but impressively, the young actress avoids leaning too heavily into nostalgia.
Ultimately, Stanton succeeds in echoing the conviction, assertiveness, and arrogance that Watson brought to Hermione in theHarry Potter movies. As the latest Harry Potter audiobooks prove, however, she’s also made the role her own, and it’ll be great to see her bring that same energy to her on-screen performance in HBO’s upcoming remake.
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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