Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairy tale, always has been, always will be. When I was 15 I discovered my first retold fairy tale, interestingly enough titled Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. This immediately became my favorite book and has remained so for over 10 years now.
I am an avid collector of anything Beauty and the Beast. I have over 10 versions of the movie, a TV series, and several books. I am constantly on the look out for anything new, and this was how I came across the news that Guillermo del Toro was remaking the famous fairy tale. To top it off I learned this movie was actually going to be loosely based on Robin McKinley’s book!
I was overjoyed. Of course the question that now remained was, who would play Beauty? I wont lie, hearing that Kristen Stewart was playing the heroine in Snow White and the Huntsman almost ruined the movie for me. I hoped Guillermo del Toro displayed better judgment when choosing his actors, especially if it was going to be based on my favorite book.
Much to my delight I heard that Emma Watson, Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, would be playing the part of Beauty! I was instantly relieved and incredibly excited. If Emma Watson can play Hermione Granger, she can certainly play Beauty. But why? In what way do Hermione and Beauty compliment each other? Read below to find out!
When Hermione is first introduced to us in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone we learn she is not very pretty. In fact, Hermione is said to have large teeth and very frizzy hair. In the first chapter of Beauty we learn our heroine is also awkward. Her hands and feet are too big, her hair is mousy and refuses to co-operate with the curling iron, and much to her horror, she breaks out in spots. Both of these girls face the issue with not living up to social standards and rise above the challenge magnificently.
Hermione and Beauty both possess an intense desire to learn. Hermione is a bit more of a know-it-all then Beauty, but their love of reading and knowledge is quite inspiring in a time when pop culture is adhered too more then the news or classic literature. I believe this makes them both excellent role models. Also, being that they are characters in a book, it makes them relatable. It lets every girl who devours their stories know that they don’t have to be beautiful to matter. All they need is a beautiful mind.
Beauty’s given name is actually Honour, which I think suits both characters well. Hermione and Beauty both have very strong personalities, as well as a desire to do good. They both speak their mind, and always tell the truth, even if that truth isn’t always welcome.Beauty proves that she is capable of looking out for herself when her family moves out to the farm. Her and her horse, Greatheart, often perform marvelous feats which earns them respect in the eyes of the townspeople.We first see a glimpse of Hermione’s feistiness in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when she slaps Draco Malfoy. As the series progresses we see how heavily Harry and Ron rely on her expertise and ability to perform complicated spells. Hermione is also a capable dueler, a talent she exhibits throughout the Harry Potter series. Neither of these heroines rely on a man to save them. Both are capable of taking care of themselves.
Emma Watson is an incredible actor who absolutely nailed the part of Hermione, right down to her character’s essence. What I love most about this actor is her ability to portray brains over beauty. I can’t wait to see what she will do with Beauty.
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