Emma Watson: Strong in ‘The Circle’ and in Life

Emma Watson stars in the upcoming thriller, The Circle, based on the novel by Dave Eggers. The film, directed by James Ponsoldt, follows Mae Holland, a young woman who lands her dream job at the titular tech company and then, as she opens up her life through its channels, falls prey to the oppressive surveillance it’s total interconnectivity entails.

Entertainment Weekly caught up to Ponsoldt and worked through what makes the technological and ethical questions raised in this film so relevant. He started by sharing what made him relate to the story so strongly. Ponsoldt explained:

“When I read The Circle, I wasn’t just moved; I was also terrified, and it didn’t feel like abstract horror. I felt that the journey of the main character, Mae Holland, it was one that I could really see myself in, for better or for worse. I think I connected to her in her worst moments and not her best moments, and when I read it, my wife was very pregnant and we were about to have our first child — we now have two babies. I started thinking a lot about the world that my son was going to be born into and the intentionality and choices that we as parents are able to make on his behalf and how much of it we really had control over — that control was the real illusion…that very much is the world that my kids are going to grow up in, and Dave’s book tapped into that in a really deep way that I couldn’t shake, so that’s how it started for me.”

The fear of having information used against us is a real one. It’s an attack that’s difficult to defend and just as difficult to be disentangled from. But a conflict of this nature could easily bog down a viewer if not focused in a way that’s relatable and engaging without having a preachy or over-simplified message. And it cannot simply create fear for the sake of it. Rather, it must foster an investment in something or someone. This is why The Circle had to be a character-driven story, focused on  Mae Holland as portrayed by the talented and empathetic Watson. Ponsoldt observed:

“At the end of the day, as a filmgoer you have to find yourself engaged with the hopes and dreams and fears and anxieties of the main character and then, and only then, will you go to crazy places with them. If you don’t connect with them, if you don’t care about them, it’s all a moot point. We were really, really lucky to get Emma Watson, who’s just a brilliant human being and she’s kind of a hero to a lot of people and justifiably so. She stands for a lot. She’s a deep thinker, she’s a challenging thinker, and she’s a really great partner in the film.”

Ponsoldt’s sentiments are on the mark. Watson has achieved her own hero status, and not just as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series (though we all love her for that!). She’s a classic heroine in her own right, engaging the world and withstanding continued attacks against worthwhile activism. It makes her all the more believable on-screen, whether in The Circle or as Belle in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast.

The Evening Standard reports on an interview with Watson to be released in the upcoming issue of Elle UK. In it, Watson sited the criticism she’s received for her humanitarian work, saying:

“It really toughened me up … There is a level of criticism that comes with being an actress and a public figure, which I expect, but once you take a stance on something like feminism, that’s a completely different ball game.”

She admits that the attention which comes her way as an actress and, now, spokeswoman can be uncomfortable. She wonders if she’s been given a seat at the table which she hasn’t quite earned yet. But, not one to shy away from a challenge and the opportunity to make a difference, she makes the most of it. Watson acknowledges:

“I am aware I have a long way to go. I am not sure I deserve all the respect I get yet, but I’m working on it.”

She certainly is, and she’s making more of an impact than she thinks. Whether it’s attending marches, sharing books and interests, choosing roles that model strength and independence, or selecting films that challenge us–Watson has already earned our respect.

For the Evening Standard’s coverage of Watson’s Elle UK interview, which will feature in the March issue released Tuesday, February 14th, read here.

To read the entire Entertainment Weekly interview with James Ponsoldt, click here.

The Circle is set to open in theaters April 28th. View the new trailer below.