Saturday, April 29, 2017

Free Skate 4/29/17

A post to discuss your nightly TV shows.

Instagram Pic of the Day 4/29/17

Tweet of the Day 4/29/17

Politically Incorrect 4/29/17

What's going on in Washington DC today?

John Boyega Was Dumped Because of Star Wars | The Graham Norton Show

Aidy Bryant Thought Her Proposal Was a Joke

Oscar Isaac is a Father

Page Six reports that Oscar Isaac, 38, and girlfriend, filmmaker Elvira Lind have welcomed their first child together. Lind's feature documentary Bobbi Jene recently won multiple awards at the Tribeca Film Festival; she released a video thanking the festival for the honors while cradling her newborn son. No word yet as to their son's name.

Ciara is a Mom Again

People reports that Ciara, 31, and husband Russell Wilson, 28, have welcomed their first child together. Their daughter Sienna Princess Wilson was born on Friday. The couple tied the knot just about 9 months ago, and supposedly waited until their wedding night to consummate their relationship. Ciara is also mother to son Future Zahir, 2, with her ex, rapper Future.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Instagram Pic of the Day 4/28/17

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on

Tweet of the Day 4/28/17

'The Sandlot' Cast: Where Are They Now? | THR

Politically Incorrect 4/28/17

What's going on in Washington DC today?

Blind Gossip Exclusive Blind Item - Watch The Third Candidate

There was talk last year about securing a new “girlfriend” for this famous young actor.

Neither of the two original candidates worked out… but there is now a third candidate who is close to contract!

The identity of the new “girlfriend” is a closely-guarded secret… but we’re going to let you in on it!

It’s the beautiful dark-haired actress who costars with him in an upcoming movie!

"They are going to do a “trial run” in [a foreign country] in May. [The actor and actress] are being sent out together to promote the movie AND tease the relationship. If they are convincing, the contract will be for six months to one year."

The contract is longer than the usual three months for two reasons.

The first reason is the franchise potential.

"The studio really wants this to become a franchise. If they are convincing as an off-screen couple, that helps the chances of it becoming a franchise. They will both receive a big bonus from the studio if they can help lock in the sequel, plus they will both be guaranteed roles in the next film with a bump in salary from the first installment."

The second reason is that the actor also has another great big film to promote much later this year.

While our actress is not in that one, it would be helpful from a publicity standpoint to have her accompany him to promotional events for that film as well.

Watch our actor and actress over the next month to see what happens!

Actor:

Actress:

Their Movie:

Source: Blind Gossip - It's An Exclusive!

Deep Thoughts 4/28/17

What is your favorite dish to cook when you're cooking just for you?

Tulip Fever Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers

The Gossip Life Blind Item - Get A New Job

There's nothing worse than being fired, and the cast of this television show recently experienced the horror of one of the worst types of termination. 

Our network got the entire casting together ahead of an upcoming season, informed them the show was undergoing a reboot and promptly told them all to find work elsewhere for the upcoming television season.

'We were completely blindsided,' one of the actors screamed at me in all caps during an email. 

So, tell me, Gossipers:

What is our show?

Source: The Gossip Life

Samantha Bee Talks Late Night Hosting

Lena Dunham recently interviewed Samantha Bee for The Hollywood Reporter. Here are some highlights from that interview:

DUNHAM "Do you think the fact that you had spent so much time in the business, that you had done The Daily Show, gave you a certain kind of DGAF [don't give a fuck] attitude?"

BEE "It absolutely did, because I just know that there's another world out there for me that's equally satisfying. There's something else that I could do that would be fine. And it was just freedom for us. [TBS] actually really trusted us; no one really ever trusted us before. Not to that extent, that's for sure. So it was just not having too many fucks left to give is where it came from."

DUNHAM "It happened right around the time that there was this massive conversation about the fact that the only woman talk show host was Kocktails With Khloe on E! How heavily did you feel the weight of that superhero cape?"


BEE "I didn't feel it at all. And I actually still don't. I just completely separated myself from all that. I have to in order to be able to live life. People will put a yoke on you whether you like it or not. You really have to be very strict about your vision. You can't make a show for other people. You cannot crowdsource your show."

DUNHAM "Speaking of The Daily Show, I wanted to ask — because you did amazing work there, but you were in somebody else's vision — what you learned and if you had thoughts about things you wanted to do differently."


BEE "I could not be doing this if I hadn't done that, for sure. It really primed the pump. Being there for so long, it allowed me to have the exact career that I wanted to have and at the exact speed that was right for us. It also taught me to lean in to my point of view, especially toward the end, to just take ownership of my point of view, which I could never completely do because it was filtered through Jon's editorial point of view. So having the freedom to do my own thing, it was important for me and important also for Jo to go hard into what we thought, and our point of view is harder. It's more forceful in ways that Jon would never be. I think he's amazing. I think he's brilliant. Our point of view is just — it is different. We've been steeped in womanness for a long time, and we have other shit going on, and we see the world differently."

Read the full interview, which is much more political than the excerpts chosen above, at The Hollywood Reporter.



Jeremih - I Think Of You ft. Chris Brown, Big Sean

TV Line Blind Item - Which New Drama Series Is So Bad Its Network Tried To Dump It?

That foul odor assaulting executives at an unnamed broadcast or cable network is the stank emanating from an upcoming drama series that is allegedly so bad it’s actually unwatchable.

How pungent are we talking? Well, according to sources, the network behind the ambitious project tried mightily to pawn off the entire first season on one of the big streamers at a steep discount (we’re talking pennies). But the influential Powers That Be behind the series put a kibosh on the fire sale. So now the net in question is forced to sit back and watch the stink bomb smell up its airwaves (beginning at some point in the next seven months).

Making matters worse, this small-screen Ishtar was, by all accounts, a costly disaster, with most episodes coming in way, way, way, way, way over budget.

I’ve said too much, so I’ll stop now and hand this case over to you to solve: What once-buzzy series is destined to make Viva Laughlin look like Mad Men? Speculate away.

Source: TV Line

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Talks Humble Beginnings

Dwayne Johnson recently sat down for an interview, where he reflected on his path to stardom. Here are some highlights from the interview, published by Page Six:

On forging his own career path:
“I couldn’t say, ‘Oh, let me just follow the half-black and half-Samoan actor who was also a wrestler. Let me follow his path.’ That wasn’t an option, that wasn’t there. So I was forced to create my own. I have an ideology that I always like to share with the inner group, and with some people on the outside, and I’ll share it with you: I don’t just want to play the game. I want to change the way the game is played.”

On being motivated by getting evicted at age 14:
“I love being able to create big movies or TV shows that entertain people, that make them happy. I know what it’s like to earn a dollar. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and wonder how you’re going to pay the rent. I know what it’s like to be evicted. Money doesn’t fall out of the sky. So if you’re going to pay for your ticket, that inspires me to want to make a great movie. I always say to everyone, ‘Hey, around the corner we’re getting evicted. Get to work!’ I drive everyone crazy with that.”

On how he measures a movie's success:
“I always say, I have one boss. Not the movie studios … The audience. The people. They’ll dictate if there’s another one. I think [Baywatch has] a good shot...You know that cool feeling that you feel when you walk out of the theater thinking, ‘That was the greatest movie!’ And you’re kind of floating and talking about it in the car? I like that kind of thing.”

Celebrity Real Estate - Mark Burnett Edition

Now that summer is just around the corner, mega producer Mark Burnett is renting out his Malibu beach house for $70,000/mo. The 3,400 square foot home features three bedrooms, five bathrooms, and sits right on the sand, so you have immediate beachfront access. See pictures of the property at Variety.

Diane Keaton Talks Aging

Diane Keaton recently sat down for an interview with People, where she talked about aging Here's what she had to say:


On if her style has changed over the years:
“Hell no, not even at all. Although if you look at Annie Hall, I’m sleeveless and my arms are dangling around. I did expose my body. Now I would say no exposing of any aspect.”

On blush:
"You don’t want the kewpie doll look.”

On lighting:
“It’s important when you’re making up. The dimmer is your friend.” 

How has your routine changed since Annie Hall days?
Oh you know, I don’t even remember. I just washed my face — that was a good thing, I kept clean. And I always liked eye makeup and lipstick. I still do — a little shadow and pencil, lipstick. Those lips shouldn’t be too dark. I like a beige-y pink.

In what ways have you fought the outward signs of aging?
Of course I’m going to do the best I can. Given the circumstances. I exercise — I really enjoy my treadmill. My hair is now white. It’s better to have light around your face — I think it looks better on older people. Darker hair is not as softening.

No plastic surgery?
No. My feeling is that everybody has their hands and their hands are always at the face, so if the hands don’t match the face it’s a little weird. My hands are the hands of the age I am. They’ve been through a lot and they look like it!

How about your neck — do you feel bad about it?

Of course. Hello, how about every part of my body? My eyes have always drooped down and now they almost go to my ears. I’m used to them, what can I do?

Teeth whitening?
Okay, here’s my feeling about teeth whiteners. Personally, I would really like to have much whiter teeth than I have. But my teeth are so bad because you know when I was younger, I went through a period of bulimia. That ruins your teeth. I’ve had so much work just to keep mine! Don’t ever go there. So, I think if I were to have whiter teeth, I’d have to get rid of my teeth.

As such a recognizable star, do you feel you need to look good every time you leave the house?
Yeah, you have to comb your hair and you have to wear something you think looks good, but I like that. That’s fun.
Everyone has little paths or little hints about what will make them feel good. Do whatever you want — to heck with it! But that’s the other point: Don’t take too much time on yourself. Keep looking outward — that’s where the amazing part of life is.


TV Show Roundup 4/28/17

Casting News:
Nasim Pedrad is joining the season 2 cast of TBS's People of Earth, reports TV Line.

Reboots:
TV Line reports that HBO is turning the movie Wag the Dog into a half-hour scripted comedy series.

Renewals:
Variety reports that Bravo has announced their list of renewals, and it's quite lengthy. Pretty much all of your favorites are listed (and if they're not, like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, it's because it just stopped airing therefore they announce the renewal later in the year): “The Real Housewives of Orange County;” “Shahs of Sunset;” “The Real Housewives of New Jersey;” “Flipping Out;” “Don’t Be Tardy;” “Married to Medicine;” “Below Deck;” “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles;” “The Real Housewives of Atlanta;” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills;” “The Real Housewives of Dallas;” “Inside the Actor’s Studio;” “Summer House;” and “Vanderpump Rules.”

It's not official yet, but TV Line reports that all signs point to Netflix renewing its series 13 Reasons Why for a second season.

Spinoffs:
Bravo has announced their slate of new shows, most of which are spinoffs. The list includes Relationshep, which follows Southern Charm's Shep Rose on a cross-country search for love, Southern Charm New Orleans, and Bethenny and Fredrik Property Project, where Bethenny Frankel and Fredrik Eklund will flip properties together. View the full list at Variety.

The Situation is Sober

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino recently sat down for an interview with People, where he addressed his pending court case and his sobriety. Here's what he had to say:

“I’m trying to take these experiences that are coming my way and make them a positive. Obviously these certain circumstances that are going on right now aren’t the best, but I’m just living the simple life — I have a girlfriend, I’ve been clean and sober over a year and a half, I go to meetings, I take care of my body and I’m just kind of enjoying the next chapter of my life.

I have a court case that’s in the media, and if I’m not healthy mentally and physically, I’m not going to make it to the end. If I was to be negative about it and be all stressed out and possibly take a substance to relieve my stress — I tried that two years ago, and it just makes things worse. I made that mistake already. Now I just try to live a positive life and be healthy and happy, and I value my peace today. I don’t want anything to take away from my peace.”

Patton Oswalt Talk Grief, One Year Later

Patton Oswalt recently penned an update on his Facebook page about his grieving process after losing wife Michelle McNamara last April. Here is an excerpt:

"It's awful, but it's not fatal.

That's the dispatch I'm sending back from exactly one year into this shadow-slog. A year ago today -- an hour from now, I'm just realizing -- I came back from dropping Alice off at school. I'd let Michelle sleep in. Got our daughter dressed and ready for school -- lunch packed, class folder in her backpack. I stopped on the way home to buy Michelle an Americano and left it on her bedside table around 9:30am. Went up to my office, did some writing, answered some e-mails, Tweeted some thoughts on Prince dying. There was an art show at Alice's school in the afternoon and my wife and I were going to go, get dragged around the room by Alice as she chattered about her artwork and the work of her classmates. Except instead I came back down into the house and the life i knew was gone.

I'm one year into this new life -- one I never even imagined, and I can imagine some pretty pessimistic and dark contingencies, some stomach-freezing "what ifs." But not this one. This one had such a flat, un-poetic immediacy. The world gazes at you like a hungry but indifferent reptile when you're widowed.

Last night I took off my wedding ring. I couldn't bear removing it since April 21st, 2016. But now it felt obscene. That anonymous poem about the man mourning his dead lover for a year and a day, for craving a kiss from her "clay cold lips." I was inviting more darkness. Removing the ring was removing the last symbol of denial of who I was now, and what my life is, and what my responsibilities are.


But it's not fatal."

Read the full post at Facebook.


TI and Tiny Divorce Back On

People reports that Tameka "Tiny" Harris, 41, has once again filed for divorce from husband rapper T.I., real name Clifford Harris, 36. The couple has been married for 7 years, and share children King, 12, Major Philant, 8, and Heiress Diana, 9 months. Tiny has daughter Zonnique Pullins, 20, from a previous relationship, and TI is father to Messiah, 17, Domani, 15, and Deyjah, 15, from previous relationships. 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Free Skate 4/27/17

A post to discuss your nightly TV shows.

Instagram Pic of the Day 4/27/17

Tweet of the Day 4/27/17

The World's Most Romantic Post - Supersized Anniversary Edition



Politically Incorrect 4/27/17

What's going on in Washington DC today?

Blind Gossip Blind Item - Why He Gets All the Work

This pretty actress is still under 30, but she has been disappointed in her career over the past few years.

"She thought that she and [her male costar] would both become super famous after they did [that TV musical production years ago].

She’s definitely jealous that he became this huge movie star but she didn’t. She was like, “I’m more talented than he is, I’m a harder worker than he is, plus he’s a fuck up. Why does he get all the work?”

Someone said, “Well, I hear he gives better blow jobs than you do.”

We all laughed, but she didn’t think it was funny."

Actress:

Actor:

Source: Blind Gossip

Deep Thoughts 4/27/17

What has been your favorite family vacation?

Baywatch Trailer #2 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers

The Gossip Life Blind Item - Big Church Donation

A nice blind item for the day, Gossipers. 

I hear from a very reliable source that this B list television actor did an act of kindness recently. Unlike a lot of wealthy people who attend popular churches in cities, he and his family attend a local, more working class church. Some money was needed for repairs on the building and the actor stepped in and supplied the money.

If the King of King of does truly return, then our actor might be one of his favourite people.

So, tell me, Gossipers:

Who is our actor?

Source: The Gossip Life

Justin Theroux Talks Successful Women

Justin Theroux recently sat down for an interview with Esquire. Here are some highlights from the interview:

On whether or not he's intimidated by having a successful partner:
"Not at all. She's successful for a reason.... We're not in competition. If I was competing for the same job as her, I might be less forgiving."

On growing up with ADHD:
"It made school harder. You become sort of a loser because you can't excel. But [ADHD] gave me other tools, because I would listen instead of read. I was able to hear the musicality of conversations. That's helped me write dialogue."

On his career trajectory:
 "I've been lucky. I've tripped upstairs into a lot of things."

On surrounding himself with the right people:
"I have very funny friends and a very funny wife. I bounce ideas off of them. If I get a deep belly laugh, I know I've hit something."

Read the full profile at Esquire.




A post shared by @justintheroux on

Matisyahu - Step out into the Light

Blind Gossip Blind Item - Marriage on the Rocks

This very famous actor’s latest marriage may be on the rocks.

He must have gotten into some sort of fight with his wife before leaving to film in a nation far away, because when he was suddenly back in L.A…. she didn’t want to see him!

"I only heard about two minutes of the conversation. He was arguing with her over the phone. He was saying that he was only going to be here a short time, and yelling, “You are my WIFE! You better get your ass over here RIGHT NOW!” He was mad. Obviously, I couldn’t hear what she was saying. A minute later, he hung up the phone and yelled, “Fuck!” That was it.

I didn’t see her, but his son eventually showed up, and [Actor] was really happy to see him."

This couple is raising a family together? Yikes!

Actor:

Source: Blind Gossip

Paris Jackson is Vanity Fair's It Girl

Paris Jackson seems to be everywhere lately. This month, it's in Vanity Fair. Here are some highlights from the profile, in which Vanity Fair dubs her an It Girl:

"Perhaps the only thing more challenging than growing up with the King of Pop as your single parent would be growing up in that shadow—and not talking about it. Paris Jackson, the 19-year-old model and actress, is the second of Michael Jackson’s three children, raised in the surreal world of Neverland Ranch, Bubbles the chimpanzee, and the paternal pride of one of the most influential icons in music history.

While she’s adamant about keeping her family memories private, everything else is up for grabs. She happily reveals that she sings and can play a few instruments—“but I haven’t yet felt the need to make a career out of it. We’ll see.”

Like her father, she is comfortable in front of the camera—though she’s not focused solely on entertaining. “I think it’s important to show our youth that one shouldn’t compare another’s highlight reel to their own behind the scenes.”"

Read the full profile at Vanity Fair.

Celebrity Real Estate - Tom Jones Edition

Tom Jones has listed his Beverly Hills mansion for sale for $8 million. The 8,146 square foot home features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an elevator, a pool, and celebrity neighbors in this gated community include Charlie Sheen, Paris Hilton, and Christina Aguilera. See pictures of the property at Variety.

Bethenny Frankel's Ex Jason Hoppy Going to Trial

Us Weekly reports that Jason Hoppy will have a trial this summer over the stalking and harassment charges brought against him by ex-wife and current Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel. In a court appearance on Tuesday, a judge ruled that Frankel's restraining order against Hoppy will stand. Hoppy rejected a plea deal last month that would see him going to an anger management program. Hoppy's trial date has been set to star on June 27th.

TV Show Roundup 4/27/17

Casting News:
Hilary Swank has joined the cast of FX's new Danny Boyle series Trust, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Renewals:
The Hollywood Reporter announces that MTV is moving forward with a 3rd season for Scream, which will feature a brand-new cast, a new location, and new story, and more diversity. Queen Latifah's production company Flavor Unit Entertainment has signed on to executive produce the new season.

There Might Be Another Writer's Strike

The current Writer's Guild of America contract expires on May 1st. The WGA is currently in the midst of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to cut a new deal, but the two sides are still fairly far apart. Last week, 96% of voting members of the WGA voted to authorize a strike if negotiations break down. Here is what is at stake, according to Variety:

"Sources have indicated that when negotiators last met, the two sides had been closing some of the gaps in the area of adjusting compensation terms for writers working on short-order series. WGA has been seeing lost income and long production timetables for many cable and streaming shows, which produce fewer episodes than the traditional 22- or 24-episode seasons for broadcast network shows.

The two sides are facing complex bargaining over the WGA health plan, which has run a deficit during most of the past few years given the spiraling cost of health care. Producers were believed to be offering to increase contributions by $60 million while the WGA was asking for around $80 million to $85 million."

The last writer's strike occurred on November 5, 2007, and lasted for 100 days. A new strike would significantly impact late night shows immediately, and will have an effect on the start dates of Fall premieres, and even movie release dates.

Get that money, writers! And until you do, at least the rest of us have Netflix this time around.

Southern Charm Star is Pregnant

And no, this time it's not Kathryn! E! News reports that Cameran Eubanks Wimberly, 33, and husband Jason Wimberly are expecting their first child together. Cameran took to her Instagram to announce that their baby girl is due this Fall. The couple has been married since 2014.

Jonathan Demme Has Passed Away

Director Jonathan Demme has passed away at the age of 73 from cancer complications. Demme's films included The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia and Something Wild. Demme is survived by wife Joanne Howard, and their children Ramona, Brooklyn, and Jos. Read his full obituary at Variety.

Jodie Foster released the following statement, as reprinted by Variety:
"I am heart-broken to lose a friend, a mentor, a guy so singular and dynamic you'd have to design a hurricaine to contain him. Jonathan was as quirky as his comedies and as deep as his dramas. He was pure energy, the unstoppable cheerleader for anyone creative. Just as passionate about music as he was about art, he was and will always be a champion of the soul. JD, most beloved, something wild, brother of love, director of the lambs. Love that guy. Love him so much."

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Instagram Pics of the Day 4/26/17


A post shared by Ethan Embry (@ethanembry) on

Tweet of the Day 4/26/17

My Houzz: Mila Kunis’ Surprise Renovation for Her Parents

Politically Incorrect 4/26/17

What's going on in Washington DC today?

Reader's Choice 4/26/17

What's going on in your world today?

Blind Gossip Exclusive Blind Item - Get Out Your Air Quotes

This big action-adventure flick is being shot in various locations around the world.

A short lull was planned while they were shifting cast and crew and equipment from one country to another country.

Well, that lull got extended by a considerable margin.

What? This is a very high-budget film with a huge crew! What happened? Why in the world would they add unnecessary days or weeks of inactivity to the shooting schedule?

Get out your air quotes!

It turns out that the young female lead needed a “break.” She was suffering from “exhaustion.” By claiming that she is “exhausted”, producers could take her off line to taper her off of her “medication.”

They planned to have her pop her head up every few days for a public appearance or a photo op with her “boyfriend” so you wouldn’t suspect anything is wrong.

That concludes our air quotes for today.

We wish our young actress well. We just hope she doesn’t end up like Chris Farley.

Actress:

Film:

Source: Blind Gossip - It's An Exclusive!

Deep Thoughts 4/26/17

If you had to live in a different state, what state would you pick?

Kingsman: The Golden Circle Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers

The Gossip Life Blind Item - Heroin Addiction

I'm hearing that this hot starlet is hooked on [heroin]. Yes, two separate LA sources have insisted that this slutty star is addicted to heroin and has fallen into a crowd of losers, enablers and fellow smack lovers.

Somebody help her. Quick.

So, tell me, Gossipers:

Who is our starlet?

Source: The Gossip Life

Emma Watson on Fashion and Fame

Jessica Chastain recently interviewed Emma Watson for Interview Magazine. Here are some of the highlights from their conversation:

CHASTAIN: Talk to me about your relationship to fashion and photo shoots. It must have been such a different experience for you when you started, because you were so young. 


WATSON: Fashion is something that I love, and I find it to be so expressive and creative, and it's obviously a way into my characters, so I'm always deeply engaged with it. What I find difficult about photo shoots is the line between playing a character—you're being asked by the photographer to take on a role like you would in a movie—and being a fancier version of yourself. It's about finding that line between being spontaneous and open to direction, but also trying to explain to photographers that the "me" is often taken out of context because it has all of this other stuff attached to it. The fact that I was a child star is difficult for most people to understand, and it can be really conflicting for me. Photographers want to reinvent you, to take you somewhere else, to show you in a completely different way. They look at your previous work, and try to figure out what they can do to show a new side of you. 

CHASTAIN: I wonder if I have freedom in a way that maybe you might not. Because people grew up watching you become a woman, are you held to certain standards of having to be the same as you always were? 

WATSON: I think I am. It's one of the things that I struggle with, because the three of us—Dan[iel Radcliffe], Rupert [Grint], and I—were kids when we got cast in this fairy-tale series, and what happened to us was kind of a fantasy story in itself. Outside of the movies. So the story of my life has been of public interest, which is why I've been so passionate about having a private identity. When I step into a character, people have to be able to suspend their disbelief; they have to be able to divorce me from that girl. And not having everyone know every single intimate detail of my entire life is part of me trying to protect my ability to do my job well. Generally, I've been fortunate, like when Sofia Coppola offered me a role in The Bling Ring, which was so wonderfully different. Artists have given me a lot of freedom—have been able to imagine me in other ways—but it's something I am aware of, for sure. 

CHASTAIN: I've learned so much about acting and theater and films—life in general—from making mistakes. Do you feel the freedom to do that?


WATSON: I know that I'm under a different microscope, a certain level of scrutiny, which I find really hard at times. And sometimes the fear of doing things is overwhelming. I get incredibly overwhelmed, and sometimes feel hemmed in by that, afraid of that. But I know that if I live in that fear, then my life as an artist, as a human being, really, is over. Ultimately, it will silence me, and it will silence what is in me—which I have yet to explore and uncover. People couldn't believe it when, after Harry Potter, I was like, "I'm going to school." Essentially, I took five years out to study, doing only a few smaller projects, and, to a lot of people, it seemed like I was passing up a lot of opportunity. I received a lot of angry phone calls. But I needed the space to go and explore who I was, without being under the microscope. And I did a play at Brown. I did Three Sisters. I loved it. I loved working with other people my age who were figuring it out. As you say, I loved being able to make mistakes. To be able to step away was pretty key. When I was auditioning to play Hermione, I had this fearlessness, because I wasn't aware of anyone else. I just knew I loved that girl and I loved that role and I loved that world, and I went for it. But now I have this other thing to overcome, like in Beauty and the Beast I sang for the first time, and journalists would ask me, "Do you think you're going to be able to pull it off?" There's an incredible awareness that I have to push through. The night before I gave my speech at the U.N., I was an emotional wreck. I thought I was going to hyperventilate. [laughs] 

CHASTAIN: Is there anyone who gave you a lasting piece of advice, maybe on acting or how to navigate this social media society?

WATSON: I remember being like, "Am I crazy? Am I masochistic? Why am I doing this to myself?" But one of my mentors was like, "In life, things happen. And as much as we can try to fight to make our lives a certain way, there are things that will keep coming back to you, and you have to follow your marching orders." I think our fears find us and force us to confront them over and over again. In terms of social media, it's a minefield! Technology is moving so fast right now. Everyone is scrambling around trying to understand what it means to have an avatar, how to live our lives on the internet, what it means for privacy, for citizens of a political universe. I think that we're trying to find rules now, as we speak, and it's difficult. But, like everything, the internet is an incredibly powerful force that needs governing—not to restrict our freedom, but to protect people. 

CHASTAIN: Yours is a very positive message on social media. I can't help but be grateful that young women have someone like you to look up to, someone who prioritizes education and authenticity over the empty calories of what social media can be. 


WATSON: Gosh, I can't even imagine what it's like for the generation after me, whose parents document their whole lives as they grow up. It's kind of crazy to think about how quickly things are changing. Doing this movie, The Circle, made me think about all of this in so much more detail. I read the book first, and I could not stop thinking about it. It's not like a dystopian future—it could be tomorrow. Someone recently said he thought it was The Truman Show meets The Graduate with a dash of Kardashians. And I said I would describe the movie as The Social Network meets All About Eve meets Panic Room. The Social Network because it deals with how technology intersects with basic human needs: to feel loved, to feel seen, to feel a connection, to feel that you belong. All About Eve because it deals with the complexity of the female relationship in a patriarchal world; usually there's only one woman or two women in a boardroom. And Panic Room because it's intense. 

Read the full interview at Interview.