Emma Watson expresses her relief about stepping away from the spotlight as she appears on the cover of British Vogue.

Emma Watson has revealed she is ‘so glad’ she decided to step back from the spotlight  because it has given her ‘more autonomy’.

The actress, 33, made the decision to take a break from her career in front of the camera with her last film, Little Women, released in 2019. 

In that time, she has directed a Prada fragrance commercial and has also completed an MA in Creative Writing where she wrote a play.

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Speaking to British Vogue about the change, she said: ‘Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision.’

The Harry Potter star believes in the astrological concept of a ‘Saturn return’, when Saturn returns to the position it was in when you were born, which happens roughly every 27 to 29 years and is meant to cause realignment in a person’s life. 

Emma Watson has revealed she is ‘so glad’ she decided to step back from the spotlight because it has given her ‘more autonomy’

The actress, 33, made the decision to take a break from her career in front of the camera with her last film, Little Women, released in 2019

Emma said she sometimes felt the characters she played on screen were ‘much realer’ than she was and taking a break has given her more freedom.

She said: ‘I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before – more autonomy.

‘I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next], because the knowing that I’ve come to, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.’

Emma said focusing on herself has given her a new perspective on Hollywood where she is constantly surrounded by beautiful and successful people.

The star said none of it really matters if you are not happy with what you are doing when the cameras aren’t watching. 

Also away from the camera, Emma recently joined forces with her brother Alex to set up a gin business called Renais.

The gin is made from upcycling grapes from vineyards – including their father Chris’s in France. 

Alex said in a recent interview that because they are brother and sister they are more ‘capable of pushing each other’s buttons’. 

She said: ‘Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision’ 

She added: ‘I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty’ 

He told HELLO!: ‘Ems and I are very close. We’re hugely supportive of each other, mostly I try to give her reasons to laugh. I think we were both looking for a new challenge and thought we’d make a great team, and here we are.

‘There’s a deep level of trust and understanding that goes on [building a brand with family]. With that comes a level of stability which is great. 

‘On the flip side, we’re still brother and sister and are more than capable of pushing each other’s buttons. Working with a family member is great – although you have to fight for the space to keep your relationships outside of business which is the challenge.’

Emma is thought to have been single since ending her romance with Sir Philip Green’s son Brandon earlier this year. 

She has dated Made In Chelsea’s Francis Boulle, Spanish musician Rafael Cebrian and fellow Oxford graduate Will Adamowicz. But none have lasted.

Emma has become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses. Starring roles in Beauty And The Beast and in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women have cemented her career beyond her iconic role as Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise.

But she has also become known for her outspoken views on feminism and politics – pitting herself against J.K. Rowling by openly backing trans rights.

See the full feature in the January issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 19 December.