Emma Watson has spent most of her life under the spotlight, but her latest role is taking her behind the scenes—and it’s causing a little bit of sibling friction!
The Harry Potter alum and her brother, Alex Watson, are officially bringing their luxury spirit, Renais Gin, to the United States. While the duo shares a deep bond, Alex is getting candid about what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling.
In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, Alex admits that while the partnership is “lovely,” it hasn’t been without its growing pains. The main source of their workplace drama? Emma’s famously high standards.
“Emma’s definitely a bit of a perfectionist, which can be quite challenging,” Alex tells PEOPLE with a laugh.
The siblings’ new venture has already sparked a massive wave of viral buzz on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). Fans are obsessed with seeing a new side of Emma, who hasn’t just put her name on the bottle—she actually directed the brand’s stunning U.S. commercial.
Alex explains that he tends to be the “pragmatic” one of the pair, which leads to them “butting heads” when their creative visions don’t align. However, he views the friction as a sign of how much they both care about the project.
Seeing his -year-old sister pivot from Hollywood icon to entrepreneur has been a highlight for Alex. He notes that Emma spent the vast majority of her life—from age to —filming nearly non-stop.
“I think when you pause and take a moment and step outside of that, you can then start telling your own stories,” Alex says. “She’s a very bright, multi-talented person… it’s really important to step out and express yourself in other ways.”
This creative freedom is a breath of fresh air for Emma. She previously admitted to the Financial Times that she “wasn’t very happy” during her last major film press tour, feeling “caged” by a lack of creative control. With Renais, she is finally the one calling the shots.
Of course, the Watson household wouldn’t be complete without a little healthy competition. When asked who mixes a better cocktail, Alex isn’t ready to hand over the crown to his sister just yet.
“She’s such a little nerd, she’ll just go in and study something,” he jokes. “I’m very competitive… so it is me for now, but it could very well be her by next week.”
The brand is a true family affair, inspired by the vineyards their father, Chris Watson, planted in Chablis, France, over years ago. Chris even makes frequent cameos on their social media, much to the delight of the “Potterhead” community.
“Getting to spend time with my dad and my sister doing this is honestly so cool,” Alex says. “I’ll always be very grateful for this period of time.”
As Renais hits shelves at Total Wines in California and ships to states, Alex has one final mission for his American fans: convincing them that “gin martinis are the way forward.” Clashing or not, this sibling duo seems to have found the perfect recipe for success.
