Emma Watson’s tribute to Saturn in an Instagram post marking her 33rd birthday is the latest in a string of bizarre statements from the actress, including calling herself “self-partnered” and calling herself “witches” in a dig at JK Rowling.
The Harry Potter star said she “learned more about love and being a woman” over the past year thanks to “Saturn Return,” an astrological transit that occurs when the planet returns to the same longitude it occupied at the time of a person’s birth .
It’s not the first time Ms Watson has raised her eyebrows, as the Brit previously used a 2019 interview to coin a unique term for being romantically unattached. “I never believed the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel…it took a long time but I’m very happy [being single]- I call it being a self-partner,” she said.
More controversially, she used a speech at the BAFTAs last year to seemingly criticize JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues following her death.Ost 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.’
Ms Watson took the microphone and said: ‘I’m here for all the witches’ – a clear nod to JK Rowling’s previous statements on transgender issues and the author’s criticism of Labor 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 raised eyebrows with an ensemble consisting of 10 Oxfam dresses
In a recent Instagram post, the actress said she had “learned more about love and being a woman” over the past year
Despite being applauded by some members of the public, viewers on social media called her an “ungrateful awake brat” in choosing to use the BAFTA platform to criticize the woman who forged her early career.
She previously made her stance on trans issues clear in a 2020 statement on Twitter just hours after Ms Rowling wrote an essay defending her position.
The movie star wrote, “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they are not 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.”
Known for her activism for women’s rights, Ms. Watson 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 for Little Woman.
“What was so nice about working with Laura Dern and Meryl Streep was that the three of us knew each other before we did Little Women,” she told Vogue.
“We met in activist spaces, so we had this alliance and solidarity as activists who were part of a certain movement before we ever worked together.”
In 2018, the Brown-trained star showed up at the Oscars sporting a fake tattoo in support of the Me Too movement as she read “Times Up” — leading critics to point out that it should have read “Time’s Up.”
Ms Watson attacked JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues at the 2022 BAFTAs
In 2018, the Brown-trained star showed up at the Oscars with a fake tattoo in support of the Me Too movement and read “Times Up” – leading critics to point out that it should have said “Time’s Up”
She later laughed off the incident, saying she was looking for someone with “experience in ellipsis.”
Ms Watson drew further derision from social media users in 2021 when she showed up at an awards ceremony in London in an unusual ensemble made up of 10 vintage Oxfam dresses.
She wore a very quirky backless white tulle dress worn over flared black trousers on the green carpet as she attended Prince William’s inaugural awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace.
The outfit, which was designed by genderfluid fashion designer Harris Reed, caused quite a stir online – joking that she wore the other half of Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 Met Gala outfit, where he wore a lace net skirt over his suit.
The actress has previously revealed that she carries a bunny hot water bottle, glass straw and dental mousse in her handbag.
Until this week Ms Watson has taken a break from social media since a previous post on Instagram in December 2022.
Born on April 15, 1990, the actress shared a series of black and white photos showing her in a variety of outfits, including shorts, dresses and jackets, taken during her birthday last year.
She captioned her post, “This is 33. Holy moly. Before I was 29 I hadn’t even heard of a Saturn Return as a concept. Let’s say I’m well known now.
Mrs Watson celebrated her 33rd birthday by reflecting on a year in which she made gin, surfed, did therapy and set up an environmental investment fund for women (pictured in 2022)
“I got out of my life – I learned to surf (bad), 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 appears to be an angel, not a dog. We filmed a Harry Potter reunion⚡️. I said goodbye to my grandmother and grandfather. I retraced my steps.
‘I started an environmental investment fund for women. I played Pickleball with @sugarrayleonard and I even played golf and then tried to get all my girlfriends to learn.
“I cut my thumbnail off both hands trying to cook for myself and could only do things with one hand for months afterwards.
“I felt really sad and really angry about a lot of things. I learned more about love and being a woman.
“It took me three years, but I finally figured out a daily practice and can even keep it up for more than a few days at a time.
“I burned down some things. I’m eating green things now! I became obsessed with creating Squarespace websites. I directed my first commercial.
Known for her activism for women’s rights, Ms. Watson was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014 and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which promotes gender equality
“These photos were actually taken on my birthday last year, but I wasn’t ready to get out of my Covid Cocoon just yet.
“Today I feel (blue butterfly emoji). Thank you to the witches in my coven who were so crucial in helping me get to where and who I am today. You are my Avengers and you inspire me and kick ass. It takes a village, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
And finally – thank you to my brother @alex.s.watson for helping me find the most challenging stuff, with time, incredibly funny. Thanks @jessicaediehl – I’m obsessed with you. Thank you to the incredible – @thea.beauty_ @macksfilms @storyslaughter @lomyring @majormoonn
“Thank you @pradabeauty @prada #MiucciaPrada #RafSimons #pradabeauty #pradaparadoxe #pradafragrances #partner @naja @mvskintherapy.”
Besides Harry Potter, Ms. Watson is also known for the 2019 period drama Little Women, the 2017 Disney live action musical Beauty And The Beast, and the 2012 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 reunited for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts (LR Daniel, Rupert and Emma in 2001)
In August, she made her directorial debut with a short film to mark the launch of Prada’s new women’s fragrance – which she also mentioned in her overview of her year.
She also dubbed the taping of the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts reunion show, which aired in January 2022.
In the HBO special, she admitted her crush on co-star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, and reunited with Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley.
The stars filmed the fantasy movies, based on JK Rowling’s books, from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone released in 2001 to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011.