Emma Watson‘s tribute to Saturn in an Instagram post to mark her 33rd birthday is the latest in a series of bizarre statements from the actress that have included calling herself ‘self-partnered’ and mentioning ‘witches’ in a dig at JK Rowling.
The Harry Potter star said she ‘learned more about love and being a woman’ over the last year thanks to ‘Saturn Return’, an astrological transit which occurs when the planet returns to the same longitude that it occupied at the moment of a person’s birth.
It’s not the first time Ms Watson has raised eyebrows, with the Brit previously using a 2019 interview to coin a unique term for being romantically unattached. ‘I never believed the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel… it took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]- I call it being self-partnered’, she said.
More controversially, she used a speech at the BAFTAs last year to seemingly criticise JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues after host Rebel Wilson introduced the star to the stage by saying: ‘Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.’
Taking the mic, Ms Watson said: ‘I’m here for all the witches’ – an apparent nod to JK Rowling’s previous statements about transgender issues and the author’s criticism of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for saying ‘trans women are women’.
Emma Watson attends the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021, where she rose eyebrows with an ensemble made up of 10 Oxfam dresses
In a recent Instagram post, the actress said she had ‘learned more about love and being a woman’ over the last year
Despite being cheered by some members of the audience, viewers on social media called her an ‘ungrateful woke brat’ in choosing to use the BAFTA platform to criticise the woman who forged her early career.
She previously made her position on trans issues clear in a 2020 statement on Twitter just hours after Ms Rowling had written an essay defending her stance.
The screen star wrote: ‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.
‘I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.’
Ms Watson is known for her activism for women’s rights and was appointed a UN Women goodwill ambassador in 2014 and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which promotes gender equality.
Last April, she described how much she enjoyed working with her fellow ‘actor-activists’ on Little Woman.
‘What was really nice about working with Laura Dern and Meryl Streep was that the three of us knew each other way before we did Little Women,’ she told Vogue.
‘We met in activist spaces, so we had this allyship and solidarity as activists that had been part of a certain movement before we ever worked together.’
In 2018, the Brown-educated star appeared at the Oscars with a fake tattoo in support of the Me Too movement reading ‘Times Up’ – prompting critics to point out that it should have read ‘Time’s Up’.
Ms Watson made a jab at JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues at the 2022 BAFTAs
In 2018, the Brown-educated star appeared at the Oscars with a fake tattoo in support of the Me Too movement reading ‘Times Up’ – prompting critics to point out that it should have read ‘Time’s Up’
She later laughed off the incident and said she was looking for someone with ‘experience in apostrophes’.
Ms Watson attracted more mockery from social media users in 2021 when she turned up at an awards ceremony in London wearing an unusual ensemble made up of 10 vintage dresses from Oxfam.
She donned a very quirky backless white tulle dress worn over flared black trousers on the green carpet as she attended Prince William’s inaugural award ceremony at Alexandra Palace.
The outfit, which was designed by gender fluid fashion designer Harris Reed, caused quite the stir online – with one even joking that she was wearing the other half of Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 Met Gala outfit, where he sported a lace net skirt over his suit.
The actress has previously revealed she carries a rabbit hot water bottle, glass straw and tooth mousse in her handbag.
Until this week Ms Watson has taken a break from social media since a previous post seen on Instagram in December 2022.
The actress, who was born on April 15 1990, shared a series of black and white pictures which showed her in various outfits, including shorts, dresses and jackets, that were taken during her birthday last year.
She captioned her post: ‘This is 33. Holy moly. Before 29 I hadn’t even heard of a Saturn Return as a concept. Let’s just say that now I am well acquainted.
Ms Watson celebrated her 33rd birthday by reflecting on a year in which she made gin, surfed, did therapy and started a women’s environmental investment fund (pictured in 2022)
‘I stepped away from my life – I learned to surf (badly), I rode some horses (that went better), I did a lot of therapy (YESS therapy!). My brother and I joined forces @renaisspirits.
‘I adopted Sofia in Mexico, who seems to be an angel not a dog. We filmed a Harry Potter reunion⚡️. I said goodbye to my Grandma and Grandpa. I retraced my steps.
‘I started a women’s environmental investment fund. I played Pickleball with @sugarrayleonard and I even played golf and then tried to make all of my girlfriends learn too.
‘I cut my thumb nail off on both hands trying to cook for myself and then was only able to do things one handed for months.
‘I felt really sad and really p**sed off about a lot of things. I learned more about love and being a woman.
‘It took me three years but I have finally figured out a daily practice and can actually keep it for more than a few days in a row.
‘I burned some things down. I eat green things now! I got obsessed with making Squarespace websites. I directed my first commercial.
Ms Watson is known for her activism for women’s rights and was appointed a UN Women goodwill ambassador in 2014 and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which promotes gender equality
‘These pictures were actually taken on my birthday last year, but I wasn’t ready to come out of my Covid Cocoon.
‘Today I feel (blue butterfly emoji). Thank you to the witches in my coven who were so pivotal in helping me arrive at where and who I am now. You are my Avengers and you inspire me and kick ass. It takes a village, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
‘And lastly – thank you to my brother @alex.s.watson for helping me find the most challenging things, with time, incredibly funny. Thank you @jessicaediehl – I’m obsessed with you. Thank you to the incredible – @thea.beauty_ @macksfilms @storyslaughter @lomyring @majormoonn
‘Thank you to @pradabeauty @prada #MiucciaPrada #RafSimons #pradabeauty #pradaparadoxe #pradafragrances #partner @naja @mvskintherapy.’
Alongside Harry Potter, Ms Watson is also known for 2019’s period drama Little Women, 2017’s Disney live action musical Beauty And The Beast and 2012’s coming-of-age story The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
In her birthday Instagram post, Emma mentioned her reunion with Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter (right), and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley (left) for an HBO special
The three stars were brought back together for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts (L-R Daniel, Rupert and Emma in 2001)
In August, she made her directorial debut with a short film marking the launch of Prada’s new women’s fragrance – which she also mentioned in her round-up of her year.
She also mentioned the filming of the reunion show Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts, which was broadcast in January 2022.
The HBO special saw her admit that she had a ‘crush’ on co-star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, and reunite with Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley.
The stars filmed the fantasy films, based on JK Rowling’s books, from Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone which came out in 2001 to 2011’s Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
