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The ever-growing empire of Emma Watson
Emma Watson is all grown up. The actress, best known for playing the iconic Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" franchise, turned 25 on Wednesday, and, based on estimates from Forbes, she's not doing too badly for herself. With a net worth of $60 million, the star has certainly made the most out of her magical start.
After auditioning eight times for the role that would ultimately make her an international star, Watson began her journey as Hermione at the age of 9 and made her film debut at 11. Her first film, the first of eight in the "Harry Potter" series, grossed more than $974 million worldwide and was nominated for three Academy Awards and seven British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.
At 15 she became the youngest celebrity to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine. Four years later, Watson grossed about $30 million in 2009, collecting a reported $15 million for Parts 1 and 2 of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," putting her at the stop of Vanity Fair's list of Hollywood's 40 top earners.
But to say the 25-year-old has expanded her empire beyond Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy would be an understatement. In addition to being an accomplished actress, Watson is also a humanitarian, model and recent graduate of Brown University.
Since the completion of the "Harry Potter" series, Emma starred in a variety of different films and began modeling. And her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Her performance in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" scored her a People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor and Best Supporting Actor Award at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards.
Loved by fans and critics alike, it's no surprise that Watson has a fairly large social media presence (despite being adorably awkward on Twitter (TWTR)).
She has 17.4 million followers, as well as 29.3 million likes on Facebook (FB) and 2.6 million followers on Instagram.
Widespread film popularity and a large social media following only scratch the surface on her accomplishments, though. Watson has been involved in the promotion of girls' education for several years, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia to further her humanitarian efforts. She has also worked to promote fair trade and organic clothing and serviced as an ambassador for Camfed International, a movement to educate girls in rural Africa.
Last summer, she was named U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador. Her speech before the U.N. on behalf of the HeForShe campaign went viral and established Watson as a crucial advocate for gender equality. Not long after, Watson also delivered a 4,000-signature petition to Uruguay's parliament, calling for greater political participation by women.
During her acceptance speech for MTV's Trailblazer Award in 2013 Watson stated, "If you truly put your heart into what you believe in, even if it makes you vulnerable, amazing things can and will happen."
While most 25-year-old superstars may have been content raking in the magical megamillions, Emma Watson has set herself apart. Her charitable efforts have allowed her to redefine her role as a young celebrity and has set a higher standard for what it means to be a 20-something in the spotlight.
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