Emma Watson reveals real reason she quit Hollywood: 'Felt a bit caged'

Emma Watson has heralded her absence from Hollywood as unhappiness with the machinations of the film industry.

Speaking to The Financial Times, the Harry Potter star revealed that she “felt a bit caged,” adding: "The thing I found really hard was that I had to go out and sell something that I really didn't have very much control over.

“To stand in front of a film and have every journalist be able to say, 'How does this align with your viewpoint?'" she explained.

Watson last made her appearance in 2019’s Little Women, alongside an ensemble of women co-stars including Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, and Meryl Streep.

The actress noted that it was “very difficult to have to be the face and the spokesperson for things where I didn't get to be involved in the process.”

She said it was “really frustrating” to be “held accountable” because “I didn't have a voice, I didn't have a say.”

"I only wanted to stand in front of things where if someone was going to give me flak about it, I could say, in a way that didn't make me hate myself, 'Yes, I screwed up, it was my decision, I should have done better," she added.

However, despite her hitches from the industry, Watson is not shying away from proclaiming her love for the profession.

"I love what I do," she explained. "It's finding a way to do it where I don't have to fracture myself into different faces and people. And I just don't want to switch into robot mode any more."