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 didn’t take.
From glass slippers to “Red Rooms of Pain,” the -year-old 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 hasn’t just been acting—she’s been curated.
Here is a look at the major movie moments that almost featured the Harry Potter alum.
The Princess Swap: ‘Cinderella’
Before Lily James charmed audiences in the 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 didn’t know they were going to make Beauty and the Beast at the time I turned down Cinderella,” Watson told Total Film in .
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.
In , she told EW she hadn’t even read the books. By , she took to X (formerly Twitter) 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’s like three months prep, it’s like three or four months shooting,” she told ITV. “You can’t half-arse a project like this—you’re in or you’re 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 happens for a reason!
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