Emma Watson admits she sought therapy because she didn't feel worthy of stardom – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

Emma Watsonadmits she felt unworthy of fame in the years following her casting as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchise.

The actress was just nine-years old when she was cast as Hogwarts student Hermione in the big screen adaptation of author J.K Rowling’s hugely successful series of books.

Plucked from a line-up in her school gym at Oxford’s Dragon School, Emma quickly became a household name as Potter’s best friend across eight blockbuster films.

But her lack of enthusiasm for the inevitable scrutiny that followed her instant fame made her question whether or not she was the right choice for the role.

Speaking to activist Paris Lees during an interview forBritish Vogue, she said: ‘I’ve sat in therapy and felt really guilty about it. I’m like why me, somebody else would have enjoyed and wanted this aspect of it more than I did.

‘And I’ve struggled a lot with the guilt around that. I’m like, I should be enjoying this a lot more, I should be more excited and I’m actually really struggling. ‘

She added: ‘I was nine years old and I was literally picked out of a line-up in my school gym that wasn’t even an acting school and got the first part I ever auditioned for, and it’s so bizarre and otherworldly what happened to me. ‘

While Potter radically changed the young actress’ life , Emma says it was her devoted family – parents Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson – who helped keep her grounded as she became engulfed by her growing fame.

‘Part of what’s helped me find peace is there were moments when it got so big where I almost had vertigo and felt it got so big that I felt l disconnected, and part of the peace within myself is remembering my identity, ‘she explained.

‘I am someone’s daughter. I am my mother’s daughter, I am my father’s daughter, I am a sister. I belong to a family. I come from a place, I have roots.

‘There’s a whole big existence and identity that I have that’s really important and weighted and solid, that has nothing to do with any of that.’

However her instant recognition as Hermione threatened to drive a wedge between her and her loved ones.

‘I’ve had to ask, “Am I still your daughter?” Because it’s felt so weird sometimes, it got so big sometimes, ‘she said.

The actress – who turns 30 in April – also talked about her fears for reaching the milestone and the pressure of having a picture-perfect life.

‘I was like, “Why does everyone make such a big fuss about turning 30? This is not a big deal ”, cut to 29, and I’m like, “Oh my God, I feel so stressed and anxious”, ‘Emma said.

‘And I realize it’s because there is suddenly this bl ** dy influx of subliminal messaging around. If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30 , and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out … there’s just this incredible amount of anxiety. ‘

See the full feature in the December issue of British Vogue available via digital download and newsstands on Friday 8th November.