Originally published January 17, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
This March, Emma Watson is set to bring Belle to life as the star of Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, but the actress has revealed to Total Film that this isn’t the first Disney Princess she’s had the opportunity to play, having turned down the title role in 2015’s Cinderella.
“I didn’t know they were going to make Beauty and the Beast at the time I turned down Cinderella,” said Watson. “But when they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did. She remains curious, compassionate and open-minded. And that’s the kind of woman I would want to embody as a role model, given the choice. In a strange way, [Belle] challenges the status quo of the place she lives in, and I found that really inspiring. And also, she manages to keep her integrity and have a completely independent point of view. She’s not easily swayed by other people’s perspective; not swayed by fearmongering or scapegoating.”
SEE ALSO: Belle, The Beast, Gaston and Le Fou featured in new Beauty and the Beast images
The role of Cinderella was ultimately filled by Lily James (Downton Abbey), and the film went on to gross $543.5 million during its release in 2015.
Beauty and the Beast is directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) and sees Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast, while the cast also includes Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Luke Evans as Gaston, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as Le Fou and Audra McDonald as Garderobe. The film is set for release on March 17th, 2017.
