The Tale of Despereaux is young Emma Watson's first animated film.
Watson is best known for playing the role of Hermione Granger in Warner Bros.' phenomenally successful Harry Potter films. She began filming at age 10 and has starred in all five films with the sixth film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due to be released in July 2009.
Playing the role of Hermione has won Watson a huge fan base, worldwide critical acclaim and the prestigious AOL Moviegoer Award, for two years running, for Best Supporting Actress for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and for Best Supporting Actress: Moviefone Moviegoer Award for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Watson was also voted Child Performer of the Year for her role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by readers of Total Film magazine and, along with co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, was honored with an Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema Award by Empire magazine.
In 2007, Watson starred in Ballet Shoes in which she played Pauline Fossil, one of three orphan girls determined to follow their individual dreams. The BBC drama also costarred Victoria Wood, Emilia Fox, Richard Griffiths, Yasmin Paige and Lucy Boynton, who played Watson's onscreen sisters Petrova and Posy Fossil.
Watson's education continues to be of great importance to her. She took 10 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams (A* and A grades) and four A-grade A-levels, and is currently taking a gap year before continuing her studies at university.
In her spare time, Watson is a keen sportswoman, particularly enjoying hockey, netball and tennis, and is a passionate artist. Watson's other great loves including singing and dancing, and one of her long-standing ambitions is to star in a musical, whether it is on stage or on screen.
