Emma Watson To Star As Belle In Disney's Upcoming Live-Action Adaption of 'Beauty And The Beast'

Disney announced in June 2014 that they were planning to make a live-action adaption of Beauty and the Beast and on Monday (Jan 26) we learn that Emma Watson will play the lead role. The Harry Potter actress will star as Belle in the Bill Condon directed film. 

Stephen Chbosky will write the script for this new version, and he directed Watson in the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. So they have some chemistry working together. 

Emma took to her official Facebook page to share the news of her leading role in Beauty and the Beast writing: 

"I'm finally able to tell you... that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to 'Be Our Guest' and sing 'Something There'. My six year old self is on the ceiling - heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it. Emma xx"

Watson came to international fame starring in the Harry Potter film series, alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in all eight Harry Potter films beginning in 2001. Over ten years' time, the franchise earned Watson worldwide fame, critical accolades, and more than £10 million-"enough money never to have to work again".

From 2011 to 2014, she split her time between working on film projects and continuing her education, studying at Brown University and Oxford University and graduating from Brown with a degree in English literature in May 2014. She was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2014, winning for British Artist of the Year.