Emma Watson didn't like life much as a Harry Potter childhood star

Emma Watson has revealed she was "terrified" by the level of interest in her life when she played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films.

The star was cast as the muggle wizard when she was just 10.

But in an interview with Porter magazine, the 25-year-old says she has found happiness after years of self doubt.

She also talked about being jealous of friends who could lead normal teenage lives.

A picture taken at the unveiling of who would play the three main characters of the new Harry Potter movie

"The level of questioning I was under, coming at such a young age. People asking me 'What do you think of this? Who are you, who are you, who are you?'

"I felt so inadequate because I just didn't have answers yet. I had so many friends who had a clear sense of self. I envied those girls because I was so unsure of myself."

The Harry Potter franchise is ranked as the second most successful movie group in history, grossing more than $2.4bn (£1.67bn) globally, according to Forbes magazine.

And with the spin-off movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child hitting the West End this summer, the brand is still going strong.

Emma says she found red carpets difficult

But Emma says her time as Hermione was a tough lesson.

"I'd spent more than half of my life pretending to be someone else. While my contemporaries were dying their hair and figuring out who they were, I was figuring out who Hermione was and how best to portray her."

Emma moved to study at Brown University in America and credits that decision with helping her discover herself.

"Now at 25 for the first time in my life I feel like I have a sense of self that I'm comfortable with.

"I actually do have things that I want to say and I want to be my most authentic self."​​

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