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The ELLEgirl INTERVIEW WITH EMMA WATSON on Hermione, stardom, style, her favorites, just who she really is...

Bursting upon the scene in 2001 as Hermione Granger - the know-it-all but caring friend of Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Watson was born Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson on April 15, 1990 in Oxfordshire, England.

Up until being chosen to perform in the coveted role, Watson's only local claim to noteriety came at age 7, when she was awarded first-prize in the Daisy Pratt Poetry Competition. Her only stage experience was in school plays, having appeared in such student standards as Alice in Wonderland, The Happy Prince, and others.

At age 10, Watson was reportedly encouraged by teachers at her school to try-out for the role of Hermione after film producers called on young English performers to audition for the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In 2000, thousands of girls with much more acting experience than Watson came from every corner of the U.K. to answer casting calls for preproduction of the movie, based on the phenomenally successful first book by author J.K. Rowling.

Despite the intense competition, it was the inexperienced Emma Watson who claimed the same clear-eyed confidence and intelligence of the fictional character who she would eventually portray.

It would take a number of grueling auditions before Watson knew she landed the role, but later told the press, "Unlike Hermione, I've never been top of my class. In fact, quite the opposite! Although I am very bossy and my little brother tends to suffer a bit..."

Watson went on to portray Hermione in the other films in the Harry Potter franchise including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).

Even more attention was showered on Watson in 2004 when she was entered as a famous "Web celeb" - reportedly winning out against Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) in the Lycos Top 50 of the hottest Internet searches.

Today, she also continues to outdo her co-stars in terms of sheer numbers of fan sites dedicated to her (see below).

Watson has appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire released in November, 2005 and resumed filming on the fifth in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in January 2006. The film is now set to open in July 2007.

Most recently, Emma Watson has appeared on the July 2007 cover of Tatler magazine with a full fashion photo spread and a feature interview detailing her career and personal life.

Emma Watson.net - Bio, pictures, fan art, forum and chat, multimedia including Harry Potter video and audio clips, Winamp skins.

Emma Watson - It's All About Emma! - News, pictures, interiew quotes, message board, biography and official contact address.

Emma Watson Europe - Current news and recent photos, in German and English.

Scholastic News Interview - Emma Watson - The digital version of the education magazine in a 2002 interview with the actress discussing her role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

IMDb - Emma Watson - Complete Harry Potter filmography, brief bio and trivia on the actress with a list of TV guest appearances, related photos, message board.