Emma Watson made a surprise appearance at a matriculation ceremony held at Oxford University, where she is enrolled in a master’s program for creative writing. The 33-year-old actress, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, attended the event at the city’s Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday.
Watson looked elegant in a black gown, white blouse, and black ribbon, blending in with her fellow female students at the ceremony. One student humorously commented to the Daily Mail that it was the first time they had seen her in a gown since her iconic role in the Harry Potter movies.
Despite photography being forbidden at the event, many students couldn’t resist snapping pictures of the famous actress, excited to have her among them at Oxford University.
Emma Watson was seen at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford over the weekend for a matriculation ceremony at the university, where she officially enrolled for a master’s degree in creative writing.
During the event on Saturday, Watson surprised fellow students by showing up in a black gown paired with a white blouse. There had been previous reports suggesting that she would mainly be studying online for her degree, making her in-person appearance unexpected. Watson’s decision to study creative writing was first mentioned in an interview with the Financial Times in April, where she shared her involvement in writing poetry and essays on love, friendship, and relationships during lockdown. The Sun later revealed more details, stating that her studies would be part-time and conducted mostly online.
Reportedly, Watson will be attending just a few lectures in person, with a small security team accompanying her for safety. Although she had security present at the event on Saturday, they were not visible in any photos or videos. According to a source cited by The Sun, the course Emma is taking is designed for older adults and offers flexibility for part-time study, which fits well with her busy schedule.
Given her status as a celebrity, Watson is taking precautions to ensure her safety, especially after recent incidents. She had previously spent a year as an undergraduate student at Worcester College, Oxford, in the 2011/12 academic year.
Students gathered at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford for the matriculation ceremony that took place on a Saturday.
The event on Saturday signifies the official acceptance of students into Oxford University.
Numerous students were reportedly snapping photos of Watson at the event, some even sharing them with others.
While pursuing her English literature degree at Brown University in Rhode Island, Emma Watson graduated in 2014.
According to the Oxford University website, the creative writing master’s program spans two years and is priced at £9,025 annually for UK students and £14,155 per year for international students.
Growing up in Oxfordshire, Watson lived with her mother Jacqueline from the age of five and attended Dragon School and Headington School in the same city.
Recently, the Daily Mail featured a story about Watson dining with Syrian refugee filmmaker Hassan Akkad, who now works as a writer and human rights activist. They enjoyed a meal at the upscale Italian restaurant Cecconi’s in Mayfair, where appetizers can cost as much as £23. Akkad arrived in the UK in 2015 after a grueling 87-day journey across Europe on a dinghy.
Actress Emma Watson was spotted at The Soho House Awards held at Dumbo House in New York on September 7th.
Emma Watson appeared in the Harry Potter movies alongside Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe.
One observer noted: ‘They looked very comfortable together.’ Nevertheless, Mr. Akkad mentioned to the Mail yesterday: ‘She’s a bit out of my league.’
During their lunch outing, Watson was seen hugging him, and later he was seen carrying her personalized bamboo water bottle, bearing the initials ECW, as they departed from the restaurant and drove off in his Skoda SUV.
Since meeting at a conference in Italy in 2017 where they were both speakers, the duo has maintained a close friendship.
In the past, Watson was in a relationship with Californian entrepreneur Leo Robinton for a couple of years. More recently, she was with Sir Philip’s son, Brandon Green, for 18 months, but their relationship ended earlier this year.
