Emma Watson's Most Heart-Wrenching Harry Potter Moment Was Cut From The Deathly Hallows

Summary

• Emma Watson's intense performance in the torture scene was edited for being too realistic, even disturbing the crew.
• Book readers criticize Harry Potter movies for portraying a too-perfect Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, that lacked emotional depth and relatability.
• Emma Watson reflects on the impact and challenges of her Harry Potter role, feeling grateful but guilty about fame and fortune.

When it comes to adapting books to the big screen, it's almost impossible to include every scene in the film. This means that fans aren't likely to see all their favorite moments depicted in the movie adaptation.

As the Harry Potter books evolved and the characters grew up, they became darker and more heart-wrenching. Deathly Hallows Part 1 was one of the darkest movies in the wildly successful franchise. For Emma Watson, her most emotional moment came when Hermione was being tortured by the Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, at Malfoy Manor.

Emma Watson's Performance During Bellatrix Torture Scene In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Was A Lot More Intense Than Fans Saw

Potterheads will remember the harrowing torture scene between Helena Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix Lestrange and Emma Watson’s Hermione Granger in Deathly Hallows Part 1.

In the chilling scene, Bellatrix cuts onto Hermione’s skin to write “Mudblood.” The high-pitched screams emitted by Emma Watson during the torture scene were actually edited down.

I did one take and David [Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter movies] let the camera roll for like two minutes and just left me there screaming, When I looked at the edit, I was like, ‘Wow.’ I mean fair enough, you can’t have two minutes of me screaming. But I was like, ‘I did that a lot longer than was actually shown!’

Emma researched the scene to ensure it was authentic. She watched documentaries and spoke to people who had been tortured, making the scene feel awfully realistic. She later realized that perhaps it was too authentic, even admitting the crew members on set were upset by her incessant screaming.

“But, no, I think it was quite disturbing for the crew, which I was pleased about obviously because it showed I was doing a good job,” the Noah actress shared. “It wasn’t a fun day.”

Director David Yates agreed that, “The screams were quite horrible to listen to," which may explain why they were cut down for the final edit.

“It was a very odd energy in the room. She was kind of exploring and exorcising demons really, and serving the scene doing that. I felt, in that moment, and in that day and in that room, she kind of crossed the line as an actress."

"She discovered something within herself that will make her a great actor.”

Emma's co-star, Helena Bonham Carter also admitted she didn't enjoy filming that torture scene. Emma explained that Helena told her that she couldn't get into enjoying the villainous role that day on set.

“It was very weirdly affecting to do that scene. It was quite horrible. I think even Helena said to me afterwards, she was like, ‘I really didn’t enjoy doing that. I really didn’t.’ She usually gets very into that kind of evil stuff, but I think she felt quite uncomfortable.”

Harry Potter Movies Portrayed Hermione Granger's Character Differently Than The Books

Harry Potter fans have noticed that Hermione in the books is a completely different person than the Hermione played by Emma Watson in the movies. One big criticism is that the book Hermione was flawed, which made readers find her much more relatable. In the movie, they remove a lot of Hermione's character flaws and instead give her one-dimensional intelligence and bravery that lacked emotional depth.

While in the movies, Hermione is always the person with the solution, no matter how dangerous the situation. In the book, she is less cool-headed. J.K. Rowling's book series allows her to panic and become agitated. Because Hermione gets a lot of minor moments and plots that belonged to other characters in the book series, it makes her seem too perfect to the point that she comes across as unrealistic and underwritten.

Another aspect of the movies about Hermione that many fans of the books weren't happy about is that she never struggles with her looks. In the books, Hermione is described as having unruly hair and large teeth, until she has them magically fixed. Emma has frizzy hair in the first two movies, but she never changes her teeth. Fans who related to her as young girls with similar features felt disappointed to not see their features represented on the big screen.

How Emma Watson Feels About Her Harry Potter Role Years Later

During the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Emma Watson reflected on the role which made her a household name.

"Harry Potter was my home, my family, my world and Hermione (still is) my favorite fictional character of all time. I think a journalist once said it was irritating how many times during an interview I mentioned how lucky I was and started counting… BUT I DAMN WELL KNEW!!! And still know," Emma Watson wrote in an Instagram caption, posting a throwback photo with her costars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint as children.

"I am proud not just of what we as group contributed as actors to the franchise but also as the children that became young adults that walked that path. I look at my fellow cast members now and I am just so proud of who everyone has become as people. I am proud we were kind to each other that we supported one another and that we held up something meaningful."

The young Harry Potter stars' net worths grew substantially after appearing in the 8-part movie series. Although Emma Watson is grateful for the success she found as a young actress, she admits fame and fortune made her feel guilty. “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.”

Emma Watson was only 11 years old when the first Harry Potter movie premiered in 2001.