Emma Watson's father has a warning for new Harry Potter cast's parents. 'This can go either way...'
Emma Watson's father, Chris Watson, has issued a warning to the parents of the newly cast child actors in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series. Reflecting on Emma's early fame, he stressed the emotional challenges and pressures that come with growing up in the spotlight. Watson emphasized the importance of keeping children grounded and maintaining normalcy. He offered to support the new parents as their children prepare to enter the globally recognized franchise.
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Chris Watson's Cautionary Advice
Keeping Emma Grounded
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Advice from Past Child Stars
HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series has officially unveiled the child actors who will take on the central roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. After a reported 30,000 children auditioned, the coveted parts have gone to Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout. They are set to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson , and Rupert Grint, whose performances defined a generation of fans.The series, announced in 2023, is expected to offer a more detailed adaptation of J.K. Rowling's bestselling novels, with each season exploring one book in depth.In light of the announcement, Chris Watson, father of Emma Watson, shared his perspective on what lies ahead for the new cast and their families. Speaking to Times Radio, he described the experience of parenting a child star as one filled with uncertainty. "As a parent you have to be scared. And you think this can go either way. This is a very difficult thing to handle for a child and a parent, or not. And while there are many upsides, nothing is perfect and you have to recognise, there are going to be a whole load of downsides and some of them you could not have imagined."Emma's rise to fame began at age 11, when she was cast as Hermione Granger. Over the next decade, she earned widespread recognition and considerable fortune—reportedly £60 million—while growing up under constant public attention. Chris explained that it was crucial to maintain a sense of normalcy at home, noting, 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies. It's not a big thing in the house, and so the chance of her getting stage struck was quite limited.'Chris Watson made it a priority to balance Emma's film commitments with her education and hobbies. 'Normal life continued as far as possible,' he said. 'Her homework would go back to school on motorbikes, admittedly, but she had to do her homework.' He also stressed that the production studio had to understand Emma's life was not defined solely by acting. 'She had homework to do... she played a little bit of cricket as well.'Chris added that he would be happy to speak with the parents of the new cast, offering guidance based on his own experiences. He recognized the immense pressures involved and expressed his willingness to help them navigate this unfamiliar territory.Former Game of Thrones actor Isaac Hempstead Wright also shared advice for the new trio. Reflecting on his own experience, he encouraged them to embrace the journey: 'Enjoy every minute of it' and 'take every opportunity it affords.' He added that being part of a major franchise makes the world feel 'a much smaller place,' as recognition follows everywhere.Meanwhile, Harry Potter alumni have often spoken about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight. Daniel Radcliffe has previously admitted to struggling with fame during his teenage years, turning to alcohol before achieving sobriety in 2012. Emma Watson, at age 19, questioned how much agency she had in joining the franchise so young, once saying, 'It's very hard to go back to that time and be like, 'Did I want to do this?' It feels very foggy.'The upcoming series, slated for release in 2026, will see Rowling serve as an executive producer. Speaking about the casting announcement, she expressed full confidence in the young actors, stating, 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.'
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Harry Potter star Emma Watson 's dad, Chris Watson, has some advice for the parents of the young recruits for the series of J.K. Rowling's book adaptations. The child actors who would play the leading roles have been announced, along with the rest of the significant cast. After auditioning 30,000 children, the makers chose Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter), Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger) and Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley), who would be stepping into the shoes of Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint , respectively. Chris Watson gives advice... Chris Watson admitted that the lives of these children are going to change drastically, along with the pressure that no one could imagine. 'As a parent, you have to be scared. This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not,' he said in an interview with Times Radio. Furthermore, he admitted that there are upsides and downsides when it comes to fame. 'And while there are many upsides, nothing is perfect and you have to recognise, there are going to be a whole load of downsides and some of them you could not have imagined,' Chris stated. Despite the worldwide recognition, Emma Watson has been grounded throughout her career and has championed women's empowerment. 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies. It's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground,' he continued. Harry Potter is not everything... Moreover, Chris emphasised that it is significant to let the studios know that Harry Potter is not the only thing in life. 'But also just to make sure that the studio and everybody else knew that this was not Emma's whole life, and that, you know, she had homework to do, and we as going to play hockey, she played a little bit of cricket as well,' Chris added. Chris stated that if the parents of the new cast wish to reconnect for any more navigation or want to hear about the experiences, they could contact him.
