Latest news with #SummerEights
Time of India
15-06-2025
- 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
15-06-2025
- 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
15-06-2025
- 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
14-06-2025
- 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.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Oar-kward! Emma Watson swaps Rowling for rowing as she lands role coxing her Oxford college team... but gets trounced
As swotty Hermione Granger, she had a reputation as one of the bossiest pupils at Hogwarts. Now that same forceful spirit is helping actress Emma Watson in her new role – coxing her Oxford college rowing eight. Our exclusive pictures captured her yelling instructions at the New College women's third team yesterday. But unfortunately her efforts were in vain, as her crew lost three of their four races across the week. To add insult to injury, rivals from Jesus College celebrated their victory by playing the Harry Potter theme tune – though the actress took their teasing in good spirits. And when her team lost the last race, she remained sportsmanlike when conceding defeat, giving her Somerville College opponents the thumb-ups. Ms Watson has been at Oxford since 2023, when she decided to take a hiatus from acting to take a master's degree in creative writing at Lady Margaret Hall. She has since reportedly progressed to a DPhil – Oxford's version of a PhD – at New College. As cox, the 35-year-old steered her crew along the Isis – as the Thames is called in Oxford – in the university's annual Summer Eights competition. She wore Ray-Ban sunglasses and a white baseball cap, while her crew had donned purple face paint and tied their hair back with purple ribbons, the boat club's colours. Crews start one-and-a-half boat lengths apart, and the aim is to catch up, or 'bump', the team ahead. The actress's team was bumped three out of four times, meaning they narrowly missed out on the humiliation of 'spoons' – the term when a boat is bumped every day. The performance may not have been helped by Ms Watson failing to attend the compulsory cox briefing before the competition began – as sources allege – because she was at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a rare appearance at the event for Ms Watson, whose last film was Little Women in 2019. While at Oxford, Ms Watson is said to be dating Kieran Brown, who just finished his doctorate at the university. They were spotted kissing at a Gail's Bakery in the city last year. Ms Watson, who is also a Prada ambassador and co-founder of the gin brand Renais, has been at loggerheads with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling over the author's views on trans issues. Last week a new Hermione was announced. Arabella Stanton, 11, will take over the role in the much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series for American broadcaster HBO, which is set to be filmed this summer. She previously took the title role of Matiltda on the West End stage.
