Emma Watson has now returned to the spotlight as British Vogue’s latest cover star as she opened up about her decision to take a step back from acting.

The Harry Potter star paused her movie career after 2019’s Little Women and in that time, she’s turned her hand to directing and has also studied for an MA in creative writing.

“Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision,” she explained to the publication when asked about taking time off from Hollywood.

“[Choosing] to go back and write and study and get behind the camera was terrifying for me because I’d never done it before. I had always been in front of the camera; I’d always been an actor.”

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Emma continued: “I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before – more autonomy.

“I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next], because the knowing that I’ve come to, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Read Emma Watson’s full interview in the January issue of British Vogue, on sale from 19 December.