There’s a new live-action Disney princess in town—and she’s trading her basket and white napkins for blueprints and a st-century attitude.
In a newly released featurette from Disney, Emma Watson is opening up about why it was vital to give Belle a “modern spin” in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast. For the -year-old actress, the role is more than just a job; it’s a full-circle moment for the girl who grew up idolizing the book-loving heroine.
“Belle really dominated and characterized a huge part of my childhood and my growing up,” Watson shares in the video. Because of that deep connection, she and director Bill Condon were determined to give Belle an “industrious and very inventive” edge.
According to Condon, this version of Belle stands out from the royal pack because her heart isn’t set on a wedding. “She really is the first modern Disney princess who doesn’t want to be a princess,” he explains.
The director adds that Belle is “more interested in figuring out who she is than finding a guy and getting married.” It’s a shift that has already sparked massive buzz on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, as fans celebrate a more independent lead character.
Condon credits Watson herself for the “st-century heroine” vibes, noting that her personal strength was a huge factor in her casting. Watson took that responsibility seriously, admitting that when you love a character that much, “you really want to do it justice.”
In a candid interview for Vanity Fair’s March issue, Watson revealed that playing Belle helped her bridge the gap from her Harry Potter days. “When I finished the film, it kind of felt like I had made that transition into being a woman on-screen,” she said.
She describes Belle as a character who is “absolutely a Disney princess,” but emphasizes that she is “not a passive character—she’s in charge of her own destiny.”
Watson wasn’t afraid to speak up during production to ensure Belle felt empowered. She even pushed back on the very first image the audience sees of the character.
“I was like, ‘The first shot of the movie cannot be Belle walking out of this quiet little town carrying a basket with a white napkin in it,’” Watson recalled. “We need to rev things up!”
So, how did they “rev it up”? By making Belle the inventor of the family! While the original animated film saw her helping her father, the live-action Belle is a creator in her own right. Thanks to Watson’s input, Belle even invents a “modern washing machine” that does the chores for her—giving her more time to sit back and do what she does best: read.
Would you like me to look up the latest fan theories about the new Beauty and the Beast costumes or the official soundtrack tracklist?
