A segment from The Women of Harry Potter documentary to be released with the
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Blu-ray and DVD later this year has been released by Harry Potter: The Quest, highlighting Hermione Granger's character, and the casting of Emma Watson in the role. J.K. Rowling discussed Hermione's maturity from child to late teens throughout the series, and voiced her relief at Emma having been chosen to play 'the perfect Hermione'. That can be viewed here.
J.K. Rowling: I wouldn’t say that I based any of these women on specific women that I knew, but Hermione is an exaggeration of me. So Hermione really did come from a very deep place inside me. I was very insecure, and still am insecure in a lot of ways. But I was a very insecure person for longer than I’d like to admit. I think writing about the time in Hermione’s life that I write about – growing from childhood into womanhood, literally when we finish the book she’s 18 – I think it brought back to me how very difficult it is. So much is expected of you as you become a woman, and often you are asked to sacrifice parts of you in becoming a girl, I would say. Hermione doesn’t. She doesn’t play the game, if you like.
Emma Watson: The kind of teasing that Ron gives Hermione for being clever and always being in the library, you know I’ve had that my whole life. Guys giving me a hard time for doing well and being smart, so I can totally relate.
Jo Rowling: From the first moment that I spoke to Emma I just thought, “Oh thank Christ!” I did, because, you know, who knew who they were going to cast as Hermione? I was more worried about Hermione than anyone else. I thought, you know, “Are you going to get a girl and put her in glasses ‘cause that shows she’s clever?” How many times have we seen that happen? I spoke to Emma on the phone and she was very young, I think she was 10. And I thought, you are going to be able to play a very bright, articulate girl with conviction because that’s who you are.
Emma: I felt like I had the most pressure, in a way, because if I screwed up Hermione, I would be screwing up a part of Jo. It just would’ve been awful. I remember she sent me a letter. After the third movie she wrote me a letter and she said, “To my perfect Hermione.” To hear that from the creator of her was obviously the biggest compliment I could receive and that was when I really knew that I’d done a good job.
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