Edith Bowman
Presenting at the BT Digital Music Awards
Born	Edith Eleanor Bowman (1975-01-15) 15 January 1975 (age 37) Anstruther, Fife, Scotland
Occupation	Radio/TV Presenter
Known for	Formerly Weekday afternoon Radio 1 show
Children	Rudy Brae Bowman Smith
Website
edithbowman.com

Edith Eleanor Bowman (born 15 January 1974) is a Scottish music critic, radio DJ and television presenter. She is mostly known for hosting the weekday afternoon show and from September 2009 weekend morning on BBC Radio 1 and for presenting a variety of music related television shows and music festivals.^[1]

Media career[link]

Television[link]

Bowman's first on-screen job on TV was as a news reader on MTV UK. She went on to host many shows for the station, including co-presenting chart show Hitlist UK with Cat Deeley, with whom she also presented travel show Roadtripping for BBC Choice in 2002.

She became a presenter on Channel 4's breakfast show RI:SE when it launched on 29 April 2002.

In 2004, she co-presented the BBC Scotland series Teen Commandments with Cameron Stout. After occasional appearances in 2003, Bowman co-presented Top of the Pops up until the end of the series, replacing Fearne Cotton while she was away. In total she appeared on the show ten times including the final weekly episode. She returned to Top of the Pops for the 2006 Christmas Special.

Since 2005, she has been the voice of the television and radio adverts for the electrical store, Comet.

She has also presented various music programmes for Channel 4 such as Channel 4 Presents... and TBA. Edith also appeared on children's art program SMart in 2007.

Edith regularly appears on coverage of festivals such as Glastonbury, T In The Park and Reading and Leeds Festival, for both BBC Radio and TV.

In 2010, she appeared on Noel Fielding's team on the BBC satirical music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, alongside Irish recording artist Imelda May.

On 29 April 2011, she reported for BBC TV on their coverage of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.^[2]

Recently^[when?] she has been narrating the McFly Documentary McFly on the Wall.

Radio[link]

Bowman presented Hit Music Sunday with Cat Deeley on Capital FM in 2001–2002.

On 29 March 2003, she teamed up with Colin Murray, who had also worked on RI:SE, to co-host Colin and Edith on BBC Radio 1. In April 2004 this show moved from a weekend morning slot to weekday afternoons, broadcasting between 13:00 and 16:00, after the departure of Mark and Lard from the station.

In August 2006, Bowman became the sole occupier of the BBC Radio 1 afternoon 13:00 to 16:00 slot, with Murray taking over a Late Night Specialist slot. In September 2008, she returned to the airwaves following maternity leave, initially taking over from Dick and Dom on the Sunday Morning Lie In from 10:00 to 13:00. She then returned to weekday afternoons on 3 November 2008.

In July 2009 it was announced that Radio 1 were to change their daytime schedule, and this saw Bowman moved to Weekend Breakfast, with Greg James replacing her on the afternoon programme.^[3] Bowman was quoted as saying she felt she had taken her shows as far as she could, and the move meant she could create a new show for a new market.^[4][5]

In February 2012, it was announced that Edith Bowman was being replaced by Gemma Cairney on Weekend Breakfast, and would move to Tuesday evenings, in order to take over The Review Show, from Nihal. Her first show of the new Review Show was on 24 April 2012.

Career milestones[link]

In 2005, Bowman presented BBC Scotland's coverage of the Live 8 event at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, and hosted the network's T in the Park programmes together with Dougie Anderson who had also worked on RI:SE.^[6] Also in 2005, she hosted the Q Awards with Colin Murray live on BBC Radio 1.

She also presented the BBC Three TV coverage of Glastonbury, T in the Park and The Reading Festival with Colin Murray. She also hosted the TV coverage of the first Electric Proms with Zane Lowe.

On 7 July 2007 she was a presenter of the BBC coverage of Live Earth.

Since leaving the weekday afternoon slot on Radio 1 Bowman's TV career has extended. She has presented several one off film specials for Channel 4. She has also presented "Evo Music Rooms" a late night music programme for Channel 4 and presents The Vue Film Show, also for Channel 4. In 2011, she is also due to present "T in the Park" music festival for BBC3.

Charity interests[link]

In May 2008, Bowman supported the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer,^[7] alongside fellow celebrities: comedian Alan Carr, actress Anna Friel, singer Natalie Imbruglia and model Twiggy.^[8]

Singing[link]

Bowman's television debut was on the Grampian Television talent show The Big Break.^[9] At the age of 14, she covered Bananarama’s Venus but finished joint last in her heat.

on 11 March 2005 she won the TV talent show Comic Relief does Fame Academy, a charity music contest in which she sang Champagne Supernova with Jools Holland's band.^[10] Earlier in the competition she sang a version of Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone". The show also featured Al Murray, Kim Medcalf, Adrian Edmondson, Jon Culshaw, Konnie Huq, Dawn Steele, and other celebrities.

Personal life[link]

Bowman was born in Anstruther in Fife, Scotland. She studied at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. In 2004, she began dating Elbow frontman Guy Garvey until she left him in 2005, inspiring many of the songs for his third album, Leaders of the Free World.^{[citation needed]} Edith lives in London with Editors frontman Tom Smith.^[1] In December 2007 it was announced they were expecting a baby.^[11] On 10 June 2008, Bowman gave birth to son Rudy Brae Bowman Smith.^[12]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Edith Bowman

• Official website
• BBC Radio 1's Review Show with Edith Bowman at BBC Programmes
• Edith Bowman on Myspace
• Edith Bowman on Twitter
• Edith Bowman at the Internet Movie Database

Melanie C
Melanie Chisholm in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Jayne Chisholm
Also known as	Melanie C, Mel C, Sporty Spice
Born	(1974-01-12) 12 January 1974 (age 38) Whiston, Lancashire[1]
Origin	Rainhill, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Genres	Pop, pop rock, Britpop, dance
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, businesswoman, actress
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Virgin Records (1995–2003) Red Girl Records (2004–present)
Associated acts	Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Website	melaniec.net

Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974, Whiston, Lancashire)^[1] is a British singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C. She is best known as one of the five members of The Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice".

She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album Northern Star which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, Reason. Melanie released her third studio album two years later in 2005, Beautiful Intentions. In 2007, she released her fourth studio album This Time.

In 2007, Melanie and the four other members of the Spice Girls conducted The Return of the Spice Girls World Tour. Melanie then signed on for a six-month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play "Blood Brothers".^[2] Her fifth studio album The Sea was released in September 2011.

Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT- and ECHO awards,^[3] has sold more than 12 million records as a solo artist^[4] and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones by a female artist.

Early life[link]

Chisholm was born on 12 January 1974 at Whiston Hospital in Whiston, Lancashire (now Merseyside).^[1] Raised originally in Rainhill, Merseyside^[5] and then Widnes, Cheshire where she attended Fairfield High School^[6]. Following school, Chisholm studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in Sidcup, Kent.^{[citation needed]} During college, she replied to an advert in The Stage by Chris and Bob Herbert, who were looking to form a new girl group, later to become the Spice Girls. She left college just short of completing her three-year course and gained teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern Theatre Dance with the ISTD.

Music career[link]

1994–1998: Spice Girls[link]

In 1994, she joined the Spice Girls (then still called Touch) after the original fifth Touch member, Lianne Morgan had to leave the group. In 1996, Chisholm, along with Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham (at that time Victoria Adams), shot to fame with the release of "Wannabe". Because Mel C usually wore a tracksuit with her hair in a ponytail and sporting the attitude of a tomboy, she was called Sporty Spice. After the release of their successful debut album, Spice, the group released their second studio album, Spiceworld that also became successful as its predecessor. During the promotion of the album, Halliwell left the group and the four remaining members, including Chisholm, began working on their third studio album.

[edit] 1999–2002: Solo career, Northern Star and the Spice Girls breakup

Chisholm took her first steps in establishing a solo career in late 1998 by singing with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams on the song "When You're Gone". Her debut album Northern Star was released in 1999. A track from this album ("Ga Ga") was included on the Big Daddy soundtrack before her own album's release. Singles "Goin' Down" and "Northern Star" were met with promising success, but the third single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, became her first UK number-one single as a solo artist, also a number-one single in the Netherlands, a Top Five hit in Germany and No.2 in Australia. Chisholm released a fourth single from Northern Star, a dance remix of "I Turn to You", and earned herself a second number-one single in both the UK and the Netherlands. "I Turn to You" reached No.2 in Germany, No.11 in Australia and eventually climbed to the top of the Billboard dance chart in the United States. Northern Star was re-released with the single versions of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You", and eventually peaked at number four on the United Kingdom album chart and number six in Germany.

"If That Were Me" was chosen as the fifth and final single from Northern Star and proceeds were donated to a charity for the homeless; it peaked at number eighteen in the UK. Northern Star is certified three times platinum in the United Kingdom for shipping 900,000 copies, platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 copies, gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies, and gold in Australia for selling over 35,000 copies. Chisholm then went on her Northern Star World Tour, performing in countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

At the same time, Spice Girls released their third and final studio album, Forever. After the album's release, the group went their separate ways.

[edit] 2003–2006: Reason, Red Girl and Beautiful Intentions

After a break from public life and battling with an eating disorder and depression in her personal life,^[7] Chisholm released her second studio album, Reason, in March 2003. The album included production from a series of collaborators including Gregg Alexander (New Radicals, Ronan Keating), Marius De Vries (Madonna), Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys, David Arnold (Björk) and Matt Rowe, co-writer of the Spice Girls' "Wannabe". The lead single from Reason was "Here It Comes Again", which peaked at number seven in the UK, with the album entering the UK album chart a week later at number five, but quickly fell off the chart. The album also entered at number 12 in Germany and No.21 in Switzerland.

Other singles from the album were "On the Horizon" (UK number fourteen, written with Gregg Alexander), "Let's Love" in Japan (where the song accompanied a Toyota commercial), "Yeh Yeh Yeh" in mainland Europe and, finally, a UK double A-side of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", which achieved a disappointing UK chart position of number twenty-seven. After a series of disappointments and the relative failure of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", Chisholm parted ways with her label, Virgin Records.^[8] Reason has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.

Melanie C performing at a music festival in Germany, 2006

Chisholm spent much of 2004 working on new material and setting up her own record company, Red Girl Records. Without major label backing, her activities were decided on and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips. In April 2005, Chisholm released her third album, Beautiful Intentions. The Adam Argyle-penned "Next Best Superstar" was chosen as the lead single and was released simultaneously in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The single peaked at number ten in the UK and reached the top of the German radio airplay chart for several weeks. A second single, "Better Alone", was released but later restricted to purchase from the iTunes Store (for digital download) and from her official online shop. Chisholm released "Better Alone" in 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other European countries. The third single from her third album was "First Day of My Life", a previously unheard Chisholm recording written by Guy Chambers and Enrique Iglesias. "First Day of My Life" topped the charts in several European countries. The single became one of the biggest hits of 2005 in parts of Europe, reaching number one in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany for two weeks (Chisholm's first No.1 single here), but it was never released in the UK. Beautiful Intentions has been certified gold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and platinum in Portugal, where it spent nine weeks at number one.^[9]

[edit] 2007–2008: This Time and the Spice Girls reunion

In early 2007, Chisholm released her fourth album, This Time. It featured writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who wrote six tracks for new album,^{[10][clarification needed]} Peter-John Vettese, Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis (amongst others). The first single released from the project was "The Moment You Believe", primarily released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it became a top twenty hit. The single also peaked at number 1 in Spain for two weeks and was a hit in several other European countries. In the UK, Chisholm released the track "I Want Candy", which peaked at number twenty-four and featured on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The single peaked at number nine in Italy and Denmark. The second single from the album This Time was "Carolyna", released in June in the UK and across Europe. Although it underperformed in the UK, it became a top five radio hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a top twenty hit in Italy. In October 2007 in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria Chisholm released the single "This Time". A new version of the song was recorded for the release. It featured a B-side track called "We Love To Entertain You", which was used for 2007's Pro7 Starforce campaign in Germany.

In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a Greatest Hits album release and a three month world tour. When the tour reached its first two day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December, another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City and a third solo performance in Toronto, Canada.^[11] Chisholm released the album This Time in Canada on 8 April 2008,^{[12][dead link]} followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single "Carolyna". "Understand" was released as a second single in Canada on 25 July. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.

[edit] 2009–present: The Sea and The Night

In May 2009, Chisholm announced the release of a DVD with her concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester (2008), in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation. The DVD also included two new songs: "Blue Skies All the Way" and "Paris Burning".^{[citation needed]} The Mirror reported in July 2009 that Melanie was to release a new album in 2010, however an album failed to materialise in 2010 and Chisholm confirmed via her Twitter feed that she was back in the recording studio and aiming for a release date in 2011.^[13] In December 2009, she joined BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball on a New Year's Eve radio programme featuring the Great British Songbook of the 90s, part of the BBC Special Christmas Season 2009.^[14]

In early 2011, Digital Spy reported that Melanie was working with DJ and club scene producer Jodie Harsh. The report indicated that Chisholm's 5th album would move away from her previous rock sound and would go for a more commercial club oriented electronic approach, in a similar vein to her earlier smash hit "I Turn to You".^[15] In May 2011, Chisholm announced via her official website, that the first single from her new album entitled "Rock Me" would be released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria on 24 June 2011.^{[citation needed]} The single was chosen as the 'official' song for German TV channel ZDF’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.^[16] On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" would be made available worldwide on iTunes.^[17] Upon release, "Rock Me" went top 40 in the German singles chart.^[18] The second single "Think About It" was announced on the singer's website. The video for "Think About It" premiered on MelanieC.net on 15 July 2011.

The next single to be released from The Sea was Weak. The song was released in the UK only, in November 2011 and reached the BBC Radio 2 A-list Airplay Chart.^{[citation needed]}

On December 2, 2011, "Let There Be Love" was released as the third single from "The Sea" in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern Europe.^{[citation needed]} The single was a cover of the German hit Liebe Ist Alles originally sung by Rosenstolz. The single failed to reach the Top 100 on the German charts.^{[citation needed]}

In late 2011, Melanie C announced she is supporting a homeless charity by donating funds raised from her annual 2012 calendar.^[19] Melanie kicked off her The Sea – Live tour in Cologne, Germany on 28 November 2011, before taking the concert to the UK, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. She then later announced a further 9 dates for 2012 concerts in the UK and Ireland.^[20]

In April 2012, Melanie announced the release of an EP titled "The Night", the EP is a collaboration with Jodie Harsh and due to be released digitally on May 13, 2012.^{[citation needed]} EP charted at number 16 in UK Independent chart selling 1.882 coppies in a first week.

Musical style[link]

Melanie C has cited Madonna as one of her biggest musical influences. She stated: "I think she's inspired me a lot musically, and maybe [in] just the way I present myself. I've always admired how hard she works and what a strong lady she is, so she's always inspired me in that way."^[21]

Acting career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2010)

In the early to mid 1990s Chisholm made several appearances in television commercials and music videos while trying to pursue her music career. It was not until The Spice Girls became popular that she made regular television appearances and played herself in many commercials. In 1997, Chisholm's feature film debut came in Spiceworld The Movie playing herself alongside her bandmates. In 2000, Chisholm played herself in an episode of The Norm Show while promoting her girl band's third studio album Forever.

She revealed in an interview with Nylon Magazine in December 2009, that she is interested in pursuing a serious acting career in film. In 2008 it was planned she would star in a sequel to the 1996 horror film The Craft, but filming was terminated. In 2009, after having her first child, Chisholm signed to perform the role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical Blood Brothers by Willy Russell in London's West End. She performed the role for 6 months, commencing November 2009. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards. Melanie reprised the role for a limited 2 week engagement at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in November 2010.

Chisholm will co-star in an arena tour of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, playing the role of Mary Magdalene.

Personal life[link]

Her younger half-brother Paul O'Neill is a racing driver.

She has been in a relationship with property developer Thomas Starr since 2002, after meeting him during a holiday in Barbados that same year. They currently share a £1 million country home at Catbrook, outside Chepstow, Monmouthshire.^[22] On 22 February 2009, Chisholm gave birth to a baby girl at the Portland Hospital in London. The baby weighed 3.7 kg (8 lbs 3oz) and was named Scarlet Starr.^[23]

Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression and an eating disorder, which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.^[7][24] She has 11 tattoos on her body.^[25]

Discography[link]

Albums:

• 1999: Northern Star
• 2003: Reason
• 2005: Beautiful Intentions
• 2007: This Time
• 2011: The Sea

EPs:

• 2012: The Night

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

• 1997: Spiceworld The Movie ... Herself (Lead Role)

Television[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (October 2011)

• 2003: Bo Selecta ... Herself (Cameo)
• 2006: Dei-te Quase Tudo ... Herself (1 Episode)
• 2007: Keith Lemon's World Tour ... Herself (3 Episodes)
• 2011: Tonight's the Night ... Herself
• 2011: Celebrity Juice ... Herself (22 September 2011, Series 6, Episode 4)
• 2011: Breast Cancer Galleria Denmark ... Herself (29 October, Denmark)

Stage Work[link]

• 2009–2010: Blood Brothers ... Mrs Johnstone (London West End and Liverpool)

Tours[link]

• 1999 – From Liverpool to Leicester Square
• 2000 – Northern Star UK Tour
• 2001 – Northern Star World Tour
• 2003 – Reason UK & Ireland Tour
• 2004 – The Barfly Mini-Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions European Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions German Tour
• 2008 – This Time Canadian Tour
• 2011/2012 – The Sea - Live

Awards & Nominations[link]

List of Awards and Nominations recieved by Melanie C

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Melanie Chisholm

• Official website
• Melanie Chisholm discography at Discogs
• Melanie Chisholm at Allmusic
• Melanie Chisholm at the Internet Movie Database

Emma Watson
Watson at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Struck by Lightning
Born	Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson[1] (1990-04-15) 15 April 1990 (age 22) Paris, France
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	2001–present
Website
www.emmawatson.com

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born 15 April 1990) is an English actress and model.

Watson rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Watson was cast as Hermione at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays.^[2] From 2001 to 2011, she starred in all eight Harry Potter films alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.^[3] Watson's work on the Harry Potter series has earned her several awards and more than £10 million.^[4] She made her modelling debut for Burberry's Autumn/Winter campaign in 2009.

In 2007, Watson announced her involvement in two productions: the television adaptation of the novel Ballet Shoes and an animated film, The Tale of Despereaux. Ballet Shoes was broadcast on 26 December 2007 to an audience of 5.2 million, and The Tale of Despereaux, based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo, was released in 2008 and grossed over US $86 million in worldwide sales.^[5][6]

Early life[link]

Emma Watson was born in Paris to Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson, both British lawyers.^[7][8] Watson has one French grandmother,^[9] and lived in Paris until the age of five. Following her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother and younger brother to Oxfordshire.^[7]

From the age of six, Watson had wanted to become an actress,^[10] and for a number of years she trained at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a part-time theatre school where she studied singing, dancing and acting.^[11] By the age of ten, she had performed in various Stagecoach productions and school plays, including Arthur: The Young Years and The Happy Prince,^[12] but she had never acted professionally before the Harry Potter series. "I had no idea of the scale of the film series," she stated in a 2007 interview with Parade; "If I had I would have been completely overwhelmed."^[13]

Career[link]

Harry Potter[link]

Handprints, footprints and wand prints of (from left to right) Watson, Radcliffe, Grint.

In 1999, casting began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States), the film adaptation of British author J. K. Rowling's best-selling novel. Casting agents found Watson through her Oxford theatre teacher,^[10] and producers were impressed by her confidence. After eight auditions, producer David Heyman told Watson and fellow applicants Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint that they had been cast for the roles of the schoolfriends Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley respectively. Rowling supported Watson from her first screen test.^[10]

The release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001 was Watson's debut screen performance. The film broke records for opening-day sales and opening-weekend takings and was the highest-grossing film of 2001.^[14][15] Critics praised the performances of the three leads, often singling out Watson for particular acclaim; The Daily Telegraph called her performance "admirable",^[16] and IGN said she "stole the show".^[17] Watson was nominated for five awards for her performance in Philosopher's Stone, winning the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress.^[18]

A year later, Watson again starred as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second instalment of the series. Reviewers praised the lead actors' performances. The Los Angeles Times said Watson and her peers had matured between films,^[19] while The Times criticised director Chris Columbus for "under-employing" Watson's hugely popular character.^[20] Watson received an Otto Award from the German magazine Bravo for her performance.^[21]

Watson at the premiere of Goblet of Fire in November 2005

In 2004, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released. Watson was appreciative of the more assertive role Hermione played, calling her character "charismatic" and "a fantastic role to play".^[22] Although critics panned Radcliffe's performance, labelling him "wooden", they praised Watson; The New York Times lauded her performance, saying "Luckily Mr. Radcliffe's blandness is offset by Ms. Watson's spiky impatience. Harry may show off his expanding wizardly skills ... but Hermione ... earns the loudest applause with a decidedly unmagical punch to Draco Malfoy's deserving nose."^[23] Although Prisoner of Azkaban remains the lowest-grossing Harry Potter film as of April 2009, Watson's personal performance won her two Otto Awards and the Child Performance of the Year award from Total Film.^[24][25][26]

With Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), both Watson and the Harry Potter film series reached new milestones. The film set records for a Harry Potter opening weekend, a non-May opening weekend in the US, and an opening weekend in the UK. Critics praised the increasing maturity of Watson and her teenage co-stars; the New York Times called her performance "touchingly earnest".^[27] For Watson, much of the humour of the film sprang from the tension among the three lead characters as they matured. She said, "I loved all the arguing. ... I think it's much more realistic that they would argue and that there would be problems."^[28] Nominated for three awards for Goblet of Fire, Watson won a bronze Otto Award.^[29][30][31] Later that year, Watson became the youngest person to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue,^[32] an appearance she reprised in August 2009.^[33] In 2006, Watson played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag, a special mini-episode of Harry Potter in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.^[34]

Watson at the premiere of Half-Blood Prince in July 2009

The fifth film in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was released in 2007. A huge financial success, the film set a record worldwide opening-weekend gross of $332.7 million.^[35] Watson won the inaugural National Movie Award for Best Female Performance.^[36] As the fame of the actress and the series continued, Watson and fellow Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on 9 July 2007.^[37]

By July 2007, Watson's work in the Harry Potter series was said to have earned her more than £10 million, and she acknowledged she would never have to work for money again.^[4] In March 2009, she was ranked 6th on the Forbes list of "Most Valuable Young Stars",^[38] and in February 2010, she was named as Hollywood's highest paid female star, having earned an estimated £19 million in 2009.^[39]

Despite the success of Order of the Phoenix, the future of the Harry Potter franchise became surrounded in doubt, as all three lead actors were hesitant to sign on to continue their roles for the final two episodes.^[40] Radcliffe eventually signed for the final films on 2 March 2007,^[40] but Watson was considerably more hesitant.^[41] She explained that the decision was significant, as the films represented a further four-year commitment to the role, but eventually conceded that she "could never let [the role of] Hermione go",^[42] signing for the role on 23 March 2007.^[43] In return for committing to the final films, Watson's pay was doubled to £2 million per film;^[44] she concluded that "in the end, the pluses outweighed the minuses".^[13] Principal photography for the sixth film began in late 2007, with Watson's part being filmed from 18 December to 17 May 2008.^[45][46]

Watson with Daniel Radcliffe (left) and Rupert Grint at the London premiere of Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in July 2011

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiered on 15 July 2009,^[47] having been delayed from November 2008.^[48] With the lead actors now in their late teens, critics were increasingly willing to review them on the same level as the rest of the film's all-star cast, which the Los Angeles Times described as "a comprehensive guide to contemporary UK acting".^[49] The Washington Post felt Watson to have given "[her] most charming performance to date",^[50] while The Daily Telegraph described the lead actors as "newly-liberated and energised, eager to give all they have to what's left of the series".^[51]

Watson's filming for the final instalment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, began on 18 February 2009^[52] and ended on 12 June 2010.^[53] For financial and scripting reasons, the original book has been divided into two films which were shot consecutively.^[54][55] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 was released in November 2010 while the second film was released in July 2011.

Other acting work[link]

Watson's first non-Potter role was the 2007 BBC film Ballet Shoes, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Noel Streatfeild.^[56][57] The film's director Sandra Goldbacher commented that Watson was "perfect" for the starring role of aspiring actress Pauline Fossil: "She has a piercing, delicate aura that makes you want to gaze and gaze at her."^[58] Ballet Shoes was broadcast in the UK on Boxing Day 2007 to an audience of 5.7 million viewers, to mixed reviews.^{[59][60][61][62][63]} Watson also lent her voice to the role of Princess Pea in the animated film The Tale of Despereaux, a children's comedy starring Matthew Broderick with Harry Potter co-star Robbie Coltrane (playing the character of Rubeus Hagrid) also starring in the film.^[64] The Tale of Despereaux was released in December 2008 and grossed $87 million worldwide.^[5] In December 2008, Watson stated she wanted to go to university after she completed the Potter series.^[65]

In May 2010, Watson was reported to be in talks to star in a film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.^[66] Filming began in summer 2011.^[67] Also that month, she announced that she would appear in a music video for One Night Only after meeting lead singer George Craig at the 2010 Winter/Summer Burberry advertising campaign. The video, "Say You Don't Want It", was screened on Channel 4 on 26 June 2010 and released on 16 August.^[68] In her first post-Harry Potter film, Watson appeared in 2011's My Week with Marilyn as Lucy, a wardrobe assistant who has a few dates with the main character, Colin Clark.^[69][70] Watson has also expressed interest in being in a musical film.^[71]

Modelling[link]

Watson at the U.S. premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in November 2010

In 2008, the British press reported that Watson was to replace Keira Knightley as the face of the fashion house Chanel, but this was denied by both parties.^[72][73] In June 2009, following several months of rumours, Watson confirmed that she would be partnering with Burberry as the face of their Autumn/Winter 2009 campaign, for which she received an estimated six-figure fee.^[74][75][76] She also appeared in Burberry's 2010 Spring/Summer campaign alongside her brother Alex, musicians George Craig and Matt Gilmour, and model Max Hurd.^[77] In February 2011, Watson was awarded the Style Icon award from British Elle by Dame Vivienne Westwood.^[78][79] Watson continued her involvement in fashion advertising when she announced she had been chosen as the face of Lancôme in March 2011.^[80]

In September 2009, Watson announced her involvement with People Tree, a Fair Trade fashion brand.^[81] Watson worked as a creative advisor for People Tree to create a spring line of clothing, which was released in February 2010;^[81][82] the range featured styles inspired by southern France and London.^[82][83] The collection, described by The Times as "very clever" despite their "quiet hope that [she] would become tangled at the first hemp-woven hurdle",^[84] was widely publicised in magazines such as Teen Vogue,^[85] Cosmopolitan, and People. Watson, who was not paid for the collaboration,^[86] admitted that competition for the range was minimal,^[84] but argued that "Fashion is a great way to empower people and give them skills; rather than give cash to charity you can help people by buying the clothes they make and supporting things they take pride in";^[87] adding, "I think young people like me are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian issues surrounding fast fashion and want to make good choices but there aren't many options out there."^[84] Watson continued her involvement with People Tree, resulting in the release of a 2010 Autumn/Winter collection.^[88]

Personal life[link]

After moving to Oxford with her mother and brother, Watson attended The Dragon School until June 2003 and then moved to Headington School, also in Oxford.^[7] While on film sets, Watson and her peers were tutored for up to five hours a day.^[89] In June 2006, Watson took GCSE examinations in 10 subjects, achieving eight A* and two A grades.^[7][90]

After leaving school, Watson took a gap year^[91] to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows beginning in February 2009,^[55] but said she "definitely want[ed] to go to university".^[65] The Providence Journal reported that Watson had confirmed that she had chosen Brown University, located in Providence, Rhode Island.^[92][93] In March 2011, after 18 months at the university, Watson announced that she was deferring her course for "a semester or two",^[94] to give her more time to participate in the advertising buildup for the release of the second Deathly Hallows film, and other projects.^[95] Watson will complete her final year at Brown University in 2012.^[96]

Watson supports the Wild Trout Trust.^{[97][dead link]}

Filmography[link]

Awards[link]

References[link]