Harry Potter star Emma Watson has revealed why she took a four-year break from acting.

The actress, 33, shot to fame as Hermione Grainger in the smash-hit franchise and went on to star in a number of films.

However, she hasn’t been seen on the big screen since 2019 in Little Women and now she’s explained why.

Speaking about her state of mind four years ago, Emma said: “I wasn’t very happy if I’m being honest. I think I felt a bit caged.

“The thing I found really hard was that I had to go out and sell something that I really didn’t have very much control over. To stand in front of a film and have every journalist be able to say, ‘How does this align with your viewpoint?’

“It was very difficult to have to be the face and the spokesperson for things where I didn’t get to be involved in the process.”

Harry Potter star Emma Watson has revealed why she took a four-year break from acting (Image: Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP via Getty Images)

Emma also told the FT she felt ‘accountable for things she didn’t have a say over’, which she said she found “frustrating”.

The actress has starred in an impressive number of films, including The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

However, she says will only return to acting if the role is “right”.

Insisting she doesn’t want to “fracture herself into different faces and people”, she stated: “I don’t want to switch into robot mode anymore.”

In March, Emma appeared to ‘throw shade’ at Harry Potter author JK Rowling at the 2022 BAFTA Awards.

She played Hermione in all eight of the Harry Potter films (Image: Warner bros.)

The actress took to the stage to present the award for Best Outstanding British Film at the Royal Albert Hall.

After she was introduced by host Rebel Wilson, Emma appeared to make a dig at the best-selling author, following her controversial comments on transgender women.

As Rebel welcomed Emma to the stage, the Australian actress quipped: “Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.”

Emma replied: “I’m here for ALL the witches” with fans convinced she was making reference to JK’s comments.

Emma appeared to ‘throw shade’ at JK Rowling at the BAFTAsDON’T MISS

The actress celebrated her 33rd birthday in April and shared a candid post about her mental health on Instagram.

Looking back at the last year of her life, after retreating from the limelight, Emma revealed she’d made gin, surfed, had therapy and started a women’s environmental investment fund.

Emma had taken a break from social media having not previously posted since December 2022.

But in a post celebrating her birthday, she wrote: “I stepped away from my life – I learned to surf (badly), I rode some horses (that went better), I did a lot of therapy (YESS therapy!)”