You may not have seen much of Harry Potter star Emma Watson in recent years and she has explained that there’s a very good reason for her deliberate absence from the spotlight

Emma Watson stepped out of the spotlight so she could get some more freedom in her life – and says she couldn’t be happier about her decision.

Fans have seen little of the 33-year-old on camera with her last film Little Women released back in 2019. During her time out of the limelight she has created some gin, surfed and even started a women’s environmental investment fund. She says it has been time well spent after finding fame as a young child in the Harry Potter franchise.

Emma, who also directed a Prada advert and completed an MA in Creative Writing during her break, told fans on social media this summer that she “learned more about love and being a woman” over the last year. Now she has spoken more in-depth about why she had to take some time out.

Speaking to British Vogue about her choice, she said: “Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision. I’m just so glad that I did because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before – more autonomy.

“I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know what’s next, because the knowing that I’ve come to – I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” It’s not the first time she has addressed the decision to take a backseat from the showbiz world.

In a post about her birthday in April, the star wrote: “I stepped away from my life – I learned to surf (badly), I rode some horses (that went better), I did a lot of therapy (YESS therapy!). “My brother and I figured out how to make a gin using recycled wine grapes!? “I felt really sad and really pissed off about a lot of things. I learned more about love and being a woman.”

She added: “It took me three years but I have finally figured out a daily practice and can actually keep it for more than a few days in a row. I burned some things down. I eat green things now! “I said goodbye to my Grandma and Grandpa. I retraced my steps. I started a women’s environmental investment fund.”

Away from acting, Emma is also known for her activism for women’s rights and was appointed a UN Women goodwill ambassador in 2014 and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which promotes gender equality. Emma also said: “I cut my thumb nail off on both hands trying to cook for myself and then was only able to do things one handed for months.”

*See the full feature in the January issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 19 December.