It goes without saying that any girl won’t mind playing a Disney princess on screen. Emma Watson did an outstanding job as Belle. Cinderella, the well-known fairy tale heroine, is a role that most girls would be thrilled to play. Well, did you know that the 2015 film, starring Lily James and directed by Kenneth Branagh nearly gave the Harry Potter actress the role of Cinderella?
It would be a career- and life-changing opportunity for any actress to have the chance to possibly play a Disney Princess. Thus, it is not shocking that there are a lot of candidates vying for these iconic roles, nor that more famous people than you would think would possibly do anything to get the chance to even audition.
However, the Little Women actress once declined a Disney princess role, which many people would consider unthinkable.
Side note: Fortunately, Watson’s chance to portray a Disney princess did not slip through the cracks; she went on to star as Belle in the live-action remake, Beauty and the Beast (2017).
Emma Watson Refused To Do Cinderella Before Beauty and the Beast
Emma Watson first gained recognition for her portrayal of Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, but her acting career has shown that she is capable of expanding beyond that role.
In the 2017 adaptation of the beloved animated film, Beauty and the Beast, Watson played Belle, continuing a recent trend at Disney of turning beloved animated films into more affluent live-action favorites.
Watson’s portrayal of Belle was highly praised by both critics and the audience; perhaps this was because Hermione had already established herself as a literate bookworm. But fans might not be aware that the actress earlier came close to portraying Cinderella in a live-action adaptation of that specific fairy tale.
Making Cinderella come to life required careful casting of the actor, who would portray the princess in the title role. Emma Watson was not only one of the top candidates for the role but she was also given the opportunity. But, the star eventually declined it.
Lily James won the role of Cinderella, which enabled the Yesterday actress to successfully transition from television to movies.
Why Did Emma Watson Decline The Role?
Playing a Disney princess may seem like the fulfillment of many dreams for any girl, and even Emma Watson has expressed her concerns about declining the Cinderella role. Before taking the lead in Beauty And The Beast, she acknowledged that she turned down Cinderella because it conflicted with her moral principles.
In an interview with Total Film (via VULTURE), the actress discussed her decision for refusing to play Cinderella in the 2015 live-action film, which went on to star Lily James as the shoe-losing maid.
“I didn’t know they were going to make Beauty And The Beast at the time I turned down Cinderella. But when they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did.”
Watson, who was appointed a UN ambassador for women in 2014, admitted that she initially had some doubts about Beauty And The Beast. The 33-year-old actress said of her role as Belle:
“She remains curious, compassionate and open-minded. And that’s the kind of woman I would want to embody as a role model, given the choice.”
She went on to say that it would be difficult for her to accept a role that conflicted with her morals.
“There’s this kind of outsider quality that Belle had, and the fact she had this really empowering defiance of what was expected of her. In a strange way, she challenges the status quo of the place she lives in, and I found that really inspiring.”
Perhaps this was what caused Watson to leave. Well, the majority of people have forgotten the Regression actress rejecting Cinderella: thanks to her brilliant performance in Beauty and the Beast.
You can watch Cinderella on Blue Sling TV, while Beauty and the Beast is available to stream on Disney Plus.
Source- Total Film
