EMMA WATSON INSPIRATION
From child star to campaigner, activist and ambassador, the actress has become a powerful role model for women around the world. By Melinda Gates
My first encounter with Emma Watson was probably just like yours: she enchanted me with her talented portrayal of Hermione, when she was only 11 years old. I remember thinking that she faced a daunting task. The Harry Potter books had captured the imagination of a generation, so expectations were high for the three young actors charged with bringing already beloved characters to life. But, as I’m sure you remember, Emma rose to the occasion spectacularly.
In many ways, Hermione – the smartest girl in the class, the hardest worker, the quickest wit – was the perfect part for Emma. As an eight-year-old, she used to put on plays with her friends for their parents. When the boys wanted to be the director, they assumed the role with no questions asked. But when Emma asked to direct, they dismissed her as ‘bossy’. She questioned why expectations were different for the boys – and then decided to keep charging toward the leadership roles she deserved anyway.
Hermione shared those same qualities – and in Hermione, they were celebrated. Unfortunately, in real life, Hollywood hasn’t yet caught up with Hogwarts. As the mother of two daughters, I worry a lot about the fact that the old stereotypes that still hold so many girls back are reflected in, and perpetuated by, the entertainment industry. And there was reason to worry that to be successful in her acting career, Emma, too, would face pressure to conform.
But she has never been one to bow to outdated societal expectations. Instead of changing to fit the demands of the system, Emma demanded that the system be the one to change. She spoke up for women’s right to receive equal pay for equal work, to be valued for their talents instead of their appearance, to be safe from sexual assault on campuses and everywhere, and to make decisions about their own bodies and futures.
In her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma urged men to join her efforts. With an unforgettable speech that grabbed headlines around the globe, she invited men to engage in this important conversation, telling them: ‘Gender equality is your issue, too.’ In just a few months, the HeForShe movement she launched reached more than a billion people on social media. Men around the world have vowed to do their part to promote gender equality – signing petitions, writing articles and standing up to restrictive gender norms in their everyday lives.
Despite her incredible success on the world stage, what most impresses me about Emma’s activism and advocacy is what takes place behind the scenes. She is doing much more than just talking the talk; she has become a quiet scholar of gender equality – immersing herself in these complicated, multifaceted issues, conferring with experts, reading reports, and doing whatever she can to deepen her understanding of what it takes to lay the groundwork for real, lasting, meaningful change. Make no mistake: she was not merely given a platform to champion this cause; she earned it.
Achieving true gender equality for women and girls everywhere is the cause of my life – and I am so glad that advocates of equality everywhere have Emma on their side. When I saw her at a meeting of policymakers earlier this year, I once again stopped and thought: ‘What luck.’ Because of a brilliant casting decision nearly 20 years ago, my daughters have grown up with such a strong example of a powerful young woman – and, equally importantly, so has my son.