With all of the live-action Disney films that are being produced from Snow White, to Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Book, and Tarzan, it should have been easy to see that Beauty and the Beast would be next in line to be recreated. After a long awaited announcement of the movie, the perfect Belle has been casted for the new film and I couldn't happier. The lovely and undersold Emma Watson. Emma Watson is one of the most undersold women in the film industry. She is very well known for her role in the Harry Potter series as Hermione Granger. One of the first roles I had seen who was a girl side kick is actually strong, smart, independent, and it was subtly groundbreaking for me at a young age. She is a role model for girls everywhere who have grown up watching her in not only through her growth as Hermione, but in films following the series throughout her career. Who else could be the perfect Belle?!
1. She can sure put a man in his place.
From when Gaston is creeping on Belle to when the Beast is being a real... well, beast, Belle has her ways of elegantly shutting them down and making sure they can see past their own egos and anger. Many examples come from the Harry Potter series themselves and speak volumes to Belle's character in the film.
2. She is beyond intelligent.
She has not just played smart women on film and tv, but she is also a brainiac in real life. She has used her fame for good to create her own sustainable fashion line that is absolutely gorgeous. This goes hand in hand with Belle's character because she always has her head in some book even though in that day and age it was frowned upon for women to grow their range of knowledge. They are both groundbreaking with their modes of using their brains in their generations.
3. She stands up for what she believes in. Against masses.
Belle stands up for everything that is right and just in her world. From when she finds out how loving and caring the Beast truly is, to the constant battle of defending her own father's credibility within their town. She is always fighting for other's who can't speak for themselves and what she truly believes in. Emma Watson is very similar in this way as well. Emma is always making leaps and bounds with her feminist movements, being called a "Feminazi" or "First-World Femininst" with pride. She was even appointed the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in July of 2014 to help promote gender equality for her HeForShe campaign.
4. She is an amazing role model for girls.
If you truly think about it, Belle was one of the first Disney Princesses to truly go against the grain. She said no to a man that was the most sought after guy in the whole town. He was not a prince, but he still was wanted by every girl in the town and could have given her everything a prince could. Although, she said no to him even after a grand proposal. She was able to say no. She not only did that but she expanded her knowledge in a time that was not acceptable, was able to have an intelligent opinion when every other woman only cared about being married, and she does not need a man to save her in the end. The Beast does somewhat save her by throwing Gaston off of the top of the castle, but she does not need a man to wake her up, take her away from her evil step mother, or save her with a "true loves kiss." She was one of the first princesses with an actual character behind her. Emma Watson is all of this and more with the support of the previous points behind it.
5. She is a certified badass.
Every reason above combined together emphasizes how much of a revolutionary, innovative, and brave person she is. Not only that but she even survives the apocalypse in "This is the End." I mean come on. What other axe wielding bad ass could have stolen that role like she did? No one could have pulled it off with that much class and flare as she did. A girl needs this degree of badassery in order to convince a beast to let him take her instead of her father as his prisoner. Just saying.
6. She is elegant and was probably a princess in another life.
Can we all just take a moment to remember the moment when she walks down the stairs for the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? When Ron sees her, it gives me a flashback to every Disney movie ever created when the Prince sees the Princess for the first time and they fall in love at first sight. If that is not a perfect representation of a modern day fairy tale I do not know what is. Plus, just look at the pictures of her as Belle. She is so perfect for the role not only through her personality, but physically is well.
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