Originally published August 20, 2016. Updated October 26, 2022.
The Colony, a film starring Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl, is a nerve-jangling thriller that follows one woman’s efforts to rescue her lover from a brutal cult. Based upon true events this film is set to be released on Digital HD from the 19th August and also on Blu-ray & DVD come the 22nd August 2016 from Signature Entertainment.
Not only are Flickering Myth running a competition where you can win one of three copies of Florian Gallenberger’s The Colony on DVD, thanks to Signature Entertainment, but below is an Emma Watson Retrospective which takes a detailed look at some of her best roles to date.
Emma Watson Retrospective
Actress, feminist, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and all-around fantastic human being, Emma Watson has certainly raised eyebrows with her challenging role in Florian Gallenberger’s gripping and unnerving film The Colony (Colonia); formed from the aftermath of horrifying true events.. Whilst Watson has continued to grow as a performer following her debut as Hogwart’s teacher’s pet, Hermione Granger, The Colony shows her in an entirely different light. To honour her exceptional and increasingly diverse work on screen, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the starring roles she has become known for over the years:
The Colony (2015) | Lena
Playing the character of Lena, Watson embarks on a journey to liberate her lover (Daniel Brühl) from the infamous Colonia Dignidad cult, and it’s leader Paul Schafer (Michael Nyqvist). This challenging role gives fans the chance to see an incendiary Emma as she’s never been seen before, with her character showing extreme courage in the face of pure evil, attempting to expose the ugly truth about a religious cult with links to Chilean leader General Pinochet’s unflinching regime. Watson gives a dedicated performance, portraying a brave young woman in pursuit of salvaging what little justice she can.
Harry Potter (2001 – 2011) | Hermione Granger
By far the most memorable role of Watson’s career, Hermione Granger has become one of cinemas most beloved characters thanks to her fantastic performances through the eight Harry Potter films. Based on J.K Rowling’s immensely popular novels, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was Watson’s cinematic screen debut, playing the intelligent and determined young girl who we have seen grow up in the franchise over 10 years, playing a large part in many of our childhood lives. Spending time solving various magical mysteries around Hogwarts with your best friends has become a common dream amongst us muggles, but Emma Watson got to live it!
The Bling Ring (2013) | Nikki
From a child witch genius to a teenage criminal mastermind, it was hard to believe in 2013 that the sweet Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame could ever be involved in the criminal world of celebrity home theft! Wanting access to the lifestyle of the rich and famous, Nikki (portrayed by Watson), and her glitz and glamour fixated friends go ‘shopping’ in various Beverly Hills mansions, trying on everything from designer threads to the hottest shade of lipstick. But thieves never prosper, and Nikki soon finds herself well in over her Gucci shades with the law. Watson doesn’t take the easy road with The Bling Ring, challenging herself with a complex role in Sofia Coppola’s film on the grotesque celebrity culture we live in today.
Noah (2014) | Ila
Another celebrated American director that Emma Watson has had the pleasure to work with is Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan), in his biblical epic Noah. Watson plays the role of Ila, Noah’s daughter in law and fellow flood survivor (spoiler alert!), in the first in a long line of modern biblical epics that looked back to the golden-era Hollywood studio films of the 1950’s. Though this adaptation of one of the good book’s most well known tales shouldn’t be taken too seriously (it also stars ‘rock monsters’…) it did prove to be a good fit for Watson who was able to tackle a darker and grittier film than her previous projects, and introducing her fans to yet another side of her, where she shines like sunshine through biblical storm clouds!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) |Sam
In this modern fan favourite Watson plays free spirited high school teen Sam, a complicated but exciting young woman who would rather be dancing all night than studying for a final. Sam and her step-brother Patrick (Ezra Miller), take freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) under their wing to show him the joys of being a teenager, and the art of not taking life too seriously, as tough as it seems at that age. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up with love, loss, fear and unforgettable friends, which Watson embodies perfectly.
My Week with Marilyn (2011) | Lucy
Last but not least, Emma Watson continues to stand out in this moving biopic on one of the world’s most iconic stars, which also features a Golden Globe winning performance from Michelle Williams as Marilyn. Watson stars as Miss Munroe’s stylist Lucy, who is courted by aspiring filmmaker Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) whose account of his week on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl shows us a rare and unseen side to the beloved icon. With such a talented cast enrolled in the film, Watson does a fantastic job of holding her own and creating a memorable performance that continues to demand audiences to give her the attention she deserves as an actress in her own right.
SEE ALSO: Read our interview with The Colony Director Florian Gallenberger here
