There’s a new live-action Disney princess in town—and she’s trading her wicker basket and white napkins for blueprints and a st-century attitude.
In a newly released featurette from Disney, Emma Watson is opening up about why it was vital to give Belle a “modern spin” in the highly anticipated Beauty and the Beast. For the -year-old actress, the role is more than just a job; it’s a full-circle moment for a girl who grew up idolizing the book-loving heroine.
“Belle really dominated and characterized a huge part of my childhood and my growing up,” Watson shares in the video. Because of that deep connection, she and director Bill Condon were determined to give Belle an “industrious and very inventive” edge that reflects the world today.
The internet is already buzzing over the shift. On X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, fans are praising the update, with one viral post noting, “Emma Watson was born to play a character who values her brain over a tiara.”
According to Condon, this version of Belle stands out from the royal pack because her heart isn’t set on a wedding. “She really is the first modern Disney princess who doesn’t want to be a princess,” he explains.
The director adds that Belle is “more interested in figuring out who she is than finding a guy and getting married.” He credits Watson herself for these “st-century heroine” vibes, noting that her personal strength and activism made her the perfect fit for the casting.
Watson clearly took that responsibility to heart. In a candid interview for Vanity Fair’s March issue, she revealed that playing Belle helped her bridge the gap from her Harry Potter days.
“When I finished the film, it kind of felt like I had made that transition into being a woman on-screen,” she said.
While she describes Belle as a character who is “absolutely a Disney princess,” she emphasizes that she is “not a passive character—she’s in charge of her own destiny.”
In fact, Watson wasn’t afraid to speak up during production to ensure Belle felt empowered. She even pushed back on the very first image the audience sees of the character in the village.
“I was like, ‘The first shot of the movie cannot be Belle walking out of this quiet little town carrying a basket with a white napkin in it,’” Watson recalled. “We need to rev things up!”
So, how exactly did they “rev it up”? By making Belle the inventor of the family!
While the original animated film saw her helping her father, Maurice, with his gadgets, the live-action Belle is a creator in her own right. Thanks to Watson’s input, Belle even invents a “modern washing machine” that does the chores for her—giving her more time to sit back and do what she does best: read.
It’s a small change that carries a big message, and it’s exactly why fans are calling this the most relatable Disney princess yet. Seeing a heroine who prioritizes her education and independence? We definitely have to stan.
