Emma Watson Talks Anxiety And Self Esteem Issues

One of our favourite actors and feminist activists Emma Watson has opened up about her struggles with self esteem. This lapse in confidence is something almost every one of us experienced in our early or mid twenties, perhaps you’re in the midst of it right now, but, thankfully, it’s something that women in their 30s and beyond reassuringly tell us they leave behind. Though Emma is still only 25, her position in the spotlight magnified those feelings tenfold, but now she’s ready to keep it real.

In an interview with Esquire Magazine, the Harry Potter actress speaks openly about her struggles with anxiety, self-doubt, self-criticism and the whole plethora of post-adolescent nastiness that we know all too well.

“I, as a 21-year-old, was riddled with insecurity and self-critiquing. Some of my friends still are. I realised that I didn’t like friends taking photos of me when I wasn’t working and I actually got in a fight about this issue. And I wondered, why is this bothering me? Why does this make me so insecure? And I realised it’s because I can’t even reconcile myself with my own image on the front of these magazines.

Comparing myself to how I look, when I’ve gone through all of that makeup and styling, in my normal life is? just? I can’t live up to it. I was like, ‘Holy shit! If that’s how I feel – and I get to be the person who’s on the cover of those magazines – how’s anyone else meant to cope?’

It’s unbelievable. Switching from that to being like: ‘Oh, I actually operate in a system that’s fucked. I’m not fucked, the system’s fucked. OK.’ And, ironically, it’s probably made me more beautiful and more confident as a result because I’m not carrying that anxiety any more.”

Yet again, another reason to adore this strong, vulnerable, honest, influential young woman.