Film, TV + Theatre

Four good reasons why Emma Watson is the perfect Belle

Real-life Disney princess

15.11.2016

By Gwen Ong

Four good reasons why Emma Watson is the perfect Belle

Last night, the world was given a glimpse of the live-action Disney adaptation of Beauty and the Beast in its first full official trailer. There is no doubt that Emma Watson is the right fit as Belle.

Since Harry Potter ended, the actress had been selective of the kind of projects she takes up in between focusing on her studies and activism. This story that is as old as time, however, piqued the interest of the British actress.

“It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I’ll get to dance to ‘Be Our Guest’ and sing ‘Something There’,” she said on her Facebook after being casted in the role. “My six-year-old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

Well Emma, we can’t wait for the big screening too. Here are just some of the few reasons why we think Emma rocks as Belle, or just rock in general.

 

She’s avid reader like Belle

It was the love for books that made Belle stood out for many of us. Like her character, Emma shares the same enthusiasm for the written words. She has started a bookclub called Our Shared Shelf to highlight works by female authors. The bookworm has even hidden a number of books in the London Underground and New York subway in recent weeks to share her love for reading.

A photo posted by @oursharedshelf on

 

She’s real smart

It’s no co-incidence that Emma is just like the characters she plays – smart, confident and sassy. Just like Hermione and Belle, Emma loves to learn. In an interview, she has professed to being very fulfilled by her studies. Emma is an English literature graduate.

 

She’s strong

Belle is one of Disney’s stronger role models who dares to speak her mind, a trait that’s evident in Emma. “I feel like young girls are told they have to be a princess, and be delicate and fragile, and that’s b******t,” she said in a 2011 press conference. “I identify much more with the idea of being a warrior, being a fighter.”

 

She’s a feminist and she owns it

Aside from her works as United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador and HeForShe advocate, Emma also championed for Belle to be more than just a bookworm. A backstory has been created to show that Belle was also an inventor who created some kind of washing machine so that she could use laundry time for reading instead.

Beauty and the Beast is premiering on 17 March 2017.

 

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Disney’s live-action ‘Mulan’: What we know so far

 

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