Renowned British actress Emma Watson might have played the role of our favorite witch Hermione Granger for a decade, but her captivating performance left a profound impact on fans of the Harry Potter franchise, for generations. However, while Watson helped audiences visualize Hermione, by bringing her to life, the actress didn’t have quite the fun portraying the character.
During a few instances, like when she had to kiss both her co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, Emma Watson noted having the worst experience of all time. Claiming to have a platonic relationship with Radcliffe and Grint, Watson recalled being horrified to learn from JK Rowling about her kissing scenes, ahead of reading the last book.
Emma Watson Recalled Filming Her First Kiss with Rupert Grint in the Harry Potter Films
Growing up on the sets of Harry Potter, alongside her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, Emma Watson naturally formed a brother-sister relationship with them. However, that’s what caused the most difficulty for the stars, when it came to their kissing scenes in the Deathly Hallows films.
Speaking with Kari Forsee, for Oprah, right after shooting the final film in the Harry Potter franchise, Emma Watson thus reflected on her first kiss with Rupert Grint. While discussing the preparations taken by both of them, Watson recalled their struggles with the idea of kissing each other, as well as the horrifying feeling.
It was, it was…ugh, it was hard. It was really hard. We were both in the same boat, though. We both were really struggling with the idea of having to kiss each other, because our relationship is so platonic. He’s like my brother, but we did it and we were happy. Watson shared.
Did you have a little pep talk beforehand? Forsee asked.
Yeah, we talked about it before. It was nice that we were in the same boat, as I said before. We both were just like, “Oh god, this is horrible”. Watson claimed.
Stating how she and Rupert Grint mutually agreed to clean their teeth ahead of the kissing scene, Emma Watson’s conversation highlighted the discomfort they both faced while filming. Although eventually it was all done perfectly, Watson recalled when things were most difficult for her, after JK Rowling disclosed bits from the Deathly Hallows book.
JK Rowling Shocked Emma Watson by Informing Her About the Kissing Scenes
While Emma Watson had previously admitted to devouring the Harry Potter books like a true bibliophile, the actress told Kari Forsee that she had yet to read the Deathly Hallows ahead of filming the two-part movie. Therefore, unaware of what awaited her character, Watson jumped into the shoes of Hermione.
That’s when JK Rowling had given her a heads-up about the kissing scenes without divulging the full details of the story’s conclusion. Watson thus admitted that this early information came as a horrifying shock since she realized that she would have to kiss both her co-stars whom she had considered her brothers, since the beginning.
Did you and the other actors know what J.K. Rowling had planned for the seventh book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? Or were you just as curious as the rest of us? Forsee asked.
Well, I was just as curious as everyone else. The only thing J.K. Rowling told me, she told me I would end up having to kiss both Dan [Radcliffe] and Rupert, and I was like, “No way!” This is before I read the last one, so I was like, “Oh, god.”
Because in the last one, Ron has a vision when he sees Harry and Hermione kissing in his vision, so I’m going to have to do that for the vision. Even though it doesn’t actually happen, I still have to do it. I’m going to end up kissing both of them in the last film. Ugh, it’s horrible.
Emma Watson thus revealed her initial discomfort with the scenes, which ultimately became crucial for the film’s narrative. However, realizing the importance of the sequences, Watson agreed to get done with it, while offering a dramatic and emotional climax to the beloved saga. According to the storyline, Hermione’s kiss with Harry offered a glimpse into Ron’s conflicted emotions, while her kiss with Ron established the beginning of their love.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
