Emma Watson may have found worldwide fame as the “brightest witch of her age,” but since hanging up her Hogwarts robes, the actress has become just as well-known for the roles she did not take.
From glass slippers to the “Red Room of Pain,” the star has been incredibly selective about her Hollywood projects. Between finishing her studies at Brown University and her powerhouse work as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Watson has not just been acting – she has been carefully curating her career, and fans on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are absolutely fascinated by the movies that almost featured the “Harry Potter” alum.
The Princess Swap: ‘Cinderella’
Before Lily James charmed audiences in Disney’s live-action “Cinderella”, the role was actually offered to Watson. In a twist of Disney fate, Emma turned down the ballgown, only to sign on as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” shortly after.
“I did not know they were going to make Beauty and the Beast at the time I turned down Cinderella,” Watson previously told Total Film.
For Watson, it was all about the character’s spirit. “When they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did,” she explained, citing Belle’s independence and integrity as the deciding factors.
The ‘Fifty Shades’ Rumors
Social media went into a frenzy in the early s with rumors that Watson was the top pick to play Anastasia Steele in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise. However, Emma was quick to shut down the viral speculation with her trademark wit.
She admitted to EW that she had not even read the books. Soon after, she took to X to clear the air for good, writing: “Who here actually thinks I would do Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.”
The role eventually went to Dakota Johnson, who shot to superstardom alongside Jamie Dornan.
The ‘La La Land’ Scheduling Conflict
Perhaps the most famous “what if” in Watson’s career involves the Oscar-winning musical “La La Land”. Watson was originally attached to star as Mia, with Miles Teller as the lead. However, her commitment to “Beauty and the Beast” made the demanding rehearsal schedule impossible.
“With a movie like Beauty and the Beast, it is like three months prep, it is like three or four months shooting,” she told ITV. “You can not half-arse a project like this – you are in or you are out.”
Emma Stone stepped into the role, ultimately winning an Academy Award for her performance. In a funny instance of Hollywood musical chairs, the two Emmas swapped places a few years later: Stone had to drop out of Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”, and Watson stepped in to play Meg March.
It seems in Hollywood, everything really does happen for a reason!
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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