Latest news with #EmmaWatson
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Stephen Fry embodies everything wrong with our cultural elite
Another day, another celebrity dunks on JK Rowling. Stephen Fry has joined the long list of Harry Potter beneficiaries like Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Ratcliffe to turn on Rowling for her views on biological sex. During a podcast recording for The Show People, Fry told the audience that Rowling 'seems to be a lost cause for us' because she 'says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people'. He also claimed that Rowling had 'been radicalised by terfs'. If she can be bothered to read about Fry's sniping, Rowling won't be surprised. Back in 2022, Fry made headlines for complaining on a different podcast that he had 'trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her', but insisted she was still a friend. During that recording, Fry asked Rowling to 'retreat', along with trans activists, to 'consider that it is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives, according to their terms, in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities that they demand'. The gender wars are not some dinner party discomfort: Fry's misunderstanding of the fundamental differences in this political battle shows that you can be good at television quizzes but have no sense at all. Rowling seems to live rent-free in the heads of many celebrities who have leeched off her writing talent. Perhaps Fry's decision to come clean with his bitchiness this time was prompted by the Supreme Court ruling that insisted the definition of woman be biological rather than fantastical. Perhaps it was Rowling's celebration of the ruling with champagne and cigars that ticked off Fry – some men find it very hard to watch women enjoy a victory. On the one hand, who cares what Stephen Fry thinks? His desire for Rowling to shut up rather than cause discomfort to his friendship circle is laughable in its bourgeois pomposity. He should also know better than to criticise someone for voicing an unpopular opinion – he himself was almost done by the cancel culture mob for allegedly making about jokes about women shagging and Muslim terrorists at the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2023. Perhaps, like many celebrities, Fry just likes being popular with the woke kids. He's certainly pretty cowardly for someone who fancies himself as the twenty-first-century Oscar Wilde. But, on the other hand, Fry's denunciation of Rowling as someone who 'wakes up' to 'kick a hornet's nest of transphobia' needs contesting. Speaking to The Show People Podcast, Fry said 'to scream 'transphobe' at anybody who does not buy into every single aspect of that particular person's trans views is so self harming. It does not get the thing done. You have to let people love you'. This is the transphobia Fry thinks Rowling is guilty of – not showing 'love'. She's not polite enough. This is what so much of trans activists' complaints boil down to – a demand for love and attention. This from a side who fail to show anything like love for the women they oppose. It's OK if Fry and his acolytes don't like women with opinions of their own – we don't want their 'love'. We demand our freedom, respect and dignity when defending and organising our own spaces, resources and identity. Hate us for it if you like. Rowling, perhaps more than most, is used to men objecting to her speaking her mind. Thankfully, though, it won't stop her.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Emma Watson's rivals play Harry Potter theme as they beat her crew in Oxford rowing competition; here's how she reacted
The Hollywood star Emma Watson , well known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has embarked on a new adventure—this time on the waters of Oxford University. The 35-year-old actress, who is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Oxford, recently competed in the prestigious Summer Eights rowing regatta, taking on the role of coxswain—the team member responsible for steering the boat and giving directions. A Fierce Competitor on the Water Watson guided her team through four intense races, showcasing her leadership and competitive spirit. They faced stiff competition in the remaining races, although they did manage to win one. Despite the challenges, she led her team with great care, delivering instructions like a true leader and demonstrating strong willpower throughout. A Playful Nod to Her Harry Potter Legacy Following one of the races, an opposing crew played the iconic Harry Potter theme tune after defeating Watson's team—a light-hearted nod to her legendary past. The moment quickly went viral, with fans appreciating the humorous tribute to her famous role. Watson laughed off the incident with the crowd, taking it in good humour and without any hint of annoyance. Emma Watson's Shift from Acting to Academia Watson's involvement in rowing marks yet another chapter in her evolving journey beyond Hollywood. Since stepping back from acting, she has focused on personal growth and education, having enrolled in a graduate programme in Creative Writing at Oxford. She made a rare public appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking her return to the red carpet after a lengthy hiatus. From Hogwarts to Oxford After bidding farewell to Harry Potter, she took on diverse roles in films such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Women.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Emma Watson Joins Oxford Rowing Team, Rival Crew Trolls Her With Harry Potter Song
Last Updated: Emma Watson is showcasing her athletic prowess by competing in Oxford University's Summer Eights rowing regatta. Hermoine aka Emma Watson has swapped wands for oars! The Harry Potter star was spotted yelling into a mic while steering a boat at Oxford University's Summer Eights rowing competition. She is officially part of her college's rowing team and took on the role of coxswain (the one who shouts directions and steers, not rows). The 35-year-old joined Oxford last year for a grad program. Emma helped lead her team in four races — and while they only won one, she was all in, shouting instructions like a total pro. However, one of the rival teams beat Emma's squad and cheekily played the Harry Potter theme song after their win which was a subtle (or not-so-subtle) dig. Emma hasn't been on our screens much lately, and that's been intentional. She's been on a bit of a career pause, choosing to focus on studies and personal growth. In fact, she made a rare red carpet return earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival after more than a decade away. Talking about her break from acting, Emma once said she needed to step back and do things on her own terms. 'It gave me a sense of autonomy and creative freedom," she said in a December 2023 interview. Emma Watson didn't waste any time breaking out of the Harry Potter mould once the series wrapped. Her first big move post-Hermione came with Ballet Shoes in 2007, followed by lending her voice to the animated film The Tale of Despereaux in 2008. After bidding Hogwarts goodbye, she took on a string of diverse roles starting with a supporting part in My Week with Marilyn (2011), and then impressing audiences as the vibrant and rebellious Sam in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012). Watson then portrayed Alexis Neiers in Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring (2013), and took a dramatic turn in Darren Aronofsky's Noah (2014), playing the adopted daughter of the titular character. That same year, she received a major nod from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, winning the British Artist of the Year award. Emma charmed audiences as Belle in Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast (2017), and later joining Greta Gerwig's star-studded cast in Little Women (2019) as the grounded and practical Meg March. Watson managed to juggle film shoots and college life between 2011 and 2014. She eventually graduated from Brown University in May 2014 with a degree in English literature. Emma Watson's last acting role was in the 2020 film Little Women, where she played Meg March. First Published: June 15, 2025, 10:06 IST
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Emma Watson turns athlete, competes in Oxford rowing team; rival teams mocks her by playing Harry Potter theme after win
Emma Watson is yelling directions into a microphone these days. But it's not on a film set, and she has not turned film director. The Harry Potter star is, instead, showcasing her athletic prowess by competing in Oxford University's Summer Eights rowing regatta. (Also read: Emma Watson's dad Chris Watson warns parents of new Harry Potter HBO series cast) The 35-year-old actor has been studying at Oxford since 2023. This summer, she took on the role of coxswain for her team. Participating in an intercollegiate competition, Emma steered her team to victory in one of the four races they participated in, according to reports. The Daily Mail reported that her team lost the other three races, however. An Instagram user who posts about women's sports called it a 'great development' and even revealed that the rival team got one up on her, playing the Harry Potter theme song after beating them, as a 'gotcha' on Emma and her team. Emma Watson, known for her iconic role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has never rowed before. Her involvement in rowing marks a departure from her acting career, which she has largely stepped back from in recent years. Her decision to focus on academia and pursue her passion for learning has led her to enrol in a graduate degree program at Oxford. In addition to her rowing endeavours, Watson made a rare public appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking her return to the event after a 12-year absence. In earlier interviews, Watson discussed the importance of taking a step back from acting and allowing herself to explore new interests and passions. In a December 2023 interview, she expressed her gratitude for the decision, saying that it has given her a sense of autonomy and creative freedom. (With ANI inputs)
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Emma Watson trades broom for boat: Former Harry Potter star rows for Oxford
Emma Watson is embracing a new role—this time, on the water instead of the screen. The former Harry Potter star, now 35, has been spotted rowing competitively as part of Oxford University's prestigious Summer Eights regatta, trading red carpet appearances for river calls. Currently pursuing a graduate degree at Oxford since 2023, Watson took to the Thames as coxswain for her college crew, guiding her team with sharp commands and steady leadership. Dressed in a crisp white tank, baseball cap, and shades, she was seen confidently calling the shots from the helm, while her crew—decked out in striking black-and-purple uniforms and matching face paint—powered through the course. Watson's pivot to rowing isn't just a casual hobby—it's the latest addition to a post-Hollywood chapter that's been as studious as it is athletic. Though she's largely stepped back from acting in recent years, she made a rare public appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival just weeks before the regatta, marking her first return to the event since 2013's The Bling Ring premiere. Before Oxford, Watson graduated from Brown University with a degree in English literature, balancing film roles with academic pursuits. Since wrapping up her decade-long run as Hermione Granger, she's deliberately kept a lower profile, opting for projects that align with her values and interests—including, it seems, a newfound passion for rowing. From spells and scripts to strokes and scholarships, Emma Watson's journey is proof that reinvention can be as graceful as a well-timed race on the river.
