Emma Watson has anxiety about turning 30

Emma Watson may be one of the most famous actors in the world, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t suffering from the same milestone birthday fear as most adults in her situation. The star covers British Vogue's December issue and opened up to the magazine about the sometimes stark reality of turning the big 3-0.“I was like, ‘Why does everyone make such a big fuss about turning 30? This is not a big deal…’” Watson told British Vogue. “Cut to 29, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I feel so stressed and anxious. And I realise it’s because there is suddenly this bloody influx of subliminal messaging around,” said Watson, who turns 30 in April. “If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out… There’s just this incredible amount of anxiety.”

 

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Introducing @EmmaWatson as the star of #BritishVogue’s December 2019 cover. At 29, Watson is one of the most recognisable faces on the planet, with some 100 million devoted followers on social media. The actor and activist sat down with @Paris.Lees to offer a rare insight into her day-to-day life, as they discussed how Watson is using her unique platform to champion causes like gender equality, reproductive rights and sustainability, her dreams for the future, and her role as Margaret “Meg” March in Greta Gerwig’s all-star reboot of Little Women. Click the link in bio for @Edward_Enninful’s editor’s letter and see the full story in the new issue, on newsstands Friday November 8. #EmmaWatson wears @AlexanderMcQueen ruffled minidress and white and gold diamond @Chopard earrings. Photographed by @AlasdairMcLellan and styled by @PoppyKain, with hair by @AnthonyTurnerHair, make-up by @LynseyAlexander, nails by @LorrainevGriffin, set design by @AndyHillmanStudio.

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Proving that you can be adored by millions, graduate from prestigious Brown University, moonlight as the face of prestige brands like Lancôme and Burberry, be an ambassador for the UN and win numerous acting awards and still be just as insecure as the rest of the world (comforting?), Watson said that being single as she approaches 30 has changed her mindset. “I never believed the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel,” said Watson, who adds that she’s finally found happiness on her own, even giving herself a fancy new let's-put-a-positive-spin-on-this title. “It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.” That’s a status change we can get behind.For her cover story, Emma sat down with activist and writer Paris Lee at the Savoy Hotel in London, where the pair also discussed Watson’s imposter syndrome following her cataclysmic push into stardom after being cast as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. Revealing her struggle with the fame side of acting, Watson said “Why me? Somebody else would have enjoyed and wanted this aspect of it more than I did.” She also touched on the now-iconic story of her casting, which saw her plucked from obscurity at a school ("that wasn't even an acting school") and getting the part in the first role that she ever auditioned for, which just so happened to become one of the biggest franchises the world had ever seen.

 

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#EmmaWatson was just nine when she was picked out of a line-up of would-be actors in her school gym to star in a film that would change her life in unimaginable ways. To celebrate her appearance on the cover of #BritishVogue’s December issue – and ahead of her return to screens in Greta Gerwig’s all-star Little Women adaptation – the actor sat down with fellow activist @Paris.Lees to reflect on her extraordinary journey so far. Via the link in bio, see Watson talk candidly about navigating global fame, turning 30, and the thrill of working with Meryl Streep. Featuring @EmmaWatson and @Paris.Lees, directed by @Kloss_Films, styled by @PoppyKain, directory of photography @JaimeAckroyd, produced by @DanielaVaricak and @TheRealMinnieCarver, features director @GilesHattersley, features editor @OEMarks, with hair by @ViSapyyapy, make-up by @LouDartford_Mua, prop styling by @StormAthillArt, tailoring by Jackie Lyall and fashion assistant @CarolinAugustin.

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Watson also chatted about her upcoming role as Meg in Greta Gerwig’s remake of Little Women. Featuring an iconic cast that is lead by Saoirse Ronan, Watson said that she already felt a kinship on set with co-stars Meryl Streep and Laura Dern, having previously met both women while supporting causes close to her heart.  “What was really nice about working with Laura Dern and Meryl Streep was that the three of us knew each other way before we did Little Women. We met in activist spaces, so we had this allyship and solidarity as activists that had been part of a certain movement before we ever worked together.”Emma Watson's British Vogue issue hits magazine stands on November 8.