Emma Watson covers the September issue of Vogue UK. They refer to her as “the voice of a generation.” Which is laying it on a bit thick, but sure. She’s a good name for the September issue of any magazine, but it does feel like Vogue UK sort of phoned it in with this editorial. I’m okay with the cover (it’s a little bit too “undone” but she looks nice), but the second photo (at the end of the post) is really unflattering. She looks like an unwashed 12 year old. I was hoping that Emma would really give a lengthy interview for the September issue too, but so far, the excerpts are just kind of meh. Some highlights:
How she felt the night before delivering her HeForShe speech at the UN last year: “I was in my hotel room, thinking, I can’t do this. I was just terrified. And then I Skyped a friend who said, ‘Go through it again and ask yourself, if you were hit by a bus tomorrow, would you be comfortable with every single line?'”
How she feels now after her UN speech: “[I feel a sense of] belonging and purpose. I understood what I’m here to do and knew where to channel all this energy that has been coming at me. I now feel this sense of peace. People say that I’m different since I did it.”
How she used to feel in the public eye: ‘Incredibly uncomfortable…I really wrestled [with success]. I tend to turn in on myself. I feel like an imposter.”
Her acting career: “When I was younger, I just did it. I just acted. It was just there.”
Emma’s UN speech last September was good, although I’m still slightly mystified as to why people considered it so groundbreaking. I think it was probably a combination of using a very famous and popular young woman to deliver the message, plus her speech was a coherent and well-delivered argument for men and women to consider themselves feminists in everyday life.
Photos courtesy of Vogue UK.
Who would be the voice of our Generation Kaiser? I am interested in who you would think that would be. I wonder myself about this topic? I think a voice of a generation maybe a group of different people not one person.
no one should ever be that. it would never work.
That was my point. Dry humor
I think either Miley Cyrus or Justin Beiber would be excellent choices
I hope (and suspect) you were joking when you said Justin Bieber, L.O.L.
Even with Miley Cyrus, while it’s great that she promotes tolerance, freedom, not being a slave to traditional values/traditional ideals about being a lady, has been a part of necessary discussions people have had about things like slut-shaming and victim-blaming over the years, and has taken a stand for the LBGTQA community, I wouldn’t paint her as ‘the voice of my generation’ either. If we’re going to do that, it has to be more than one person. One young person can’t be all things to her generation. If we’re going by famous people/celebrities,, I’d probably say something like Malala, Zendaya, Lorde, Miley, Emma, Demi Lovato, and Caitlin Stasey would qualify for certain categories, but even then I know I’m leaving people out. It’s hard to choose a group of famous people to be a collective voice for a generation.
I don’t think there can be ever one single person who can be considered a voice of their generation, but I get where they are coming from. Emma can be seen as a representation for some people from her generation (i.e. those who value education and feminism the most) as Kylie Jenner is for a different group (outer beauty) and Taylor Swift (collecting friends, love) or Miley Cyrus (partying, being anti-labels) are for yet another ones. So one of the voices, not a voice of her generation.
I was joking about both Justin and Miley actually.
She may not be the voice of a generation but she will always be Hermione Granger to me and that is good enough.
I wasn’t replying to you, it was my own observation about Miley because I really believe she fits the description. In the ideal world more people would be like Emma or better – some young scientist or human rights activist, but if we talk about “voice” being a fair representation of people, who are a significant part of this generation, there are sadly many of them, who are just like Miley – all about partying, drugs, rebelling against everything despite being incredibly privileged and pretending they are deeper, even though they only care about others when it’s convenient for them. I hope Bieber is unique in his bratiness though.
Im sure shes a nice person and believes this in all but what change has this really made? Its great shes giving her voice
to a cause like this but does anything tangible happen as a result? Just seems a little bland/non-groundbreaking to me. And im not sure what shes done since that un speech – someone can call me out if she has. I feel like it doesnt take much to be called a “feminist icon” these days…
That last line is true Kdlaf, but I feel like what makes her compelling to the audience is that she is young, beautiful and someone to idolize, if you will, in a positive light, rather than reality starlets. It takes an educated, mature individual to consider both “sides of the coin” so-to-say, and she demonstrates that. There might not be much observable results of her actions as a spokesperson on the matters that she feels passionately about, but as a young individual she is proactive and that speaks volumes.
what both sides of the coin are you talking about?
Yeah, I agree. I mean, it’s nice that she’s saying something, but I don’t get why her speech was so lauded given, among other things, that many girls and women on campuses and elsewhere – even other celebrities -have been giving better versions of this speech all the time. But she’s a “classy, good white girl*,” so any criticisms of her will be met with “how dare you speak ill of her and her speech! It’s 2015!” instead of constant criticism that other people (e.g. Beyonce) get for declaring themselves feminists.
* Let’s not even get into all the cookies that famous men get when they say they’re feminists.
This times a million. The bar is set SO low for her and I frankly find it pathetic that she doesn’t realize it. She’s really not that bright, well educated but not bright. Nothing she’s said is of ANY interest in this piece. It’s all tell don’t show. It’s a year later has she done anything remotely groundbreaking, interesting, and in support of these causes since then? No. It’s all me me me me. How it affected me, who I am, what I am, who I became, how I really changed. If that is what the magazine means by voice of a generation, then it’s a very clever joke, but I highly doubt it.
“But she’s a “classy, good white girl,” so any criticisms of her will be met with “how dare you speak ill of her and her speech! It’s 2015!” instead of constant criticism that other people (e.g. Beyonce) get for declaring themselves feminists.”
Omigod, yes! “Classy good white girls” are welcomed by feminists with open arms. Any time a woman who isn’t that tries to join feminism, no matter what progressive beliefs she has, or causes and charity she gets involved with, people within the movement will try to discredit, discredit, and derail, no matter how valid what is being said and done is. It’s further evidence that there is a sort of bias and hierarchy within the movement- even with liberals and feminists, no matter how much we want to deny it- when it comes to which women we ‘allow’ entrance into the movement.
And I agree with you that there’s a gender bias too, with men not being held to the same standard of behavior as women by feminist. Because I bet you that if Channing Tatum- white male- were to declare himself a feminist tomorrow, after a Magic Mike-style photoshoot or something, with a statement like: “I believe all people should have equal rights and not have to face discrimination, harassment, or harm”, every feminist would welcome him with open arms. Not a single one would say that by profiting off of sexuality and being attractive, he is “Objectifying And Degrading Himself (TM)” and does not qualify as a feminist or “How can he expect us to take him seriously in defending any type of equal rights or progress when he has profited off of sexuality?.” With Beyoncé and others, people aren’t nearly as tolerant.
The bottom line is that a lot of feminists and left-leaning women (and men) have internalized respectability politics. That’s why that double standard of men vs. women, and the whole ‘idealized classy white girl instantly welcomed by feminists’ hierarchy exists.
Her speech was good but nothing special. I don’t know why everyone thinks it groundbreaking. Maybe because she is a beautiful, famous actress with an actual college degree and works with UN and that makes her a little more respectable and has given her this “take me seriously” reputation? And I don’t think she did anything significant relating to the subject after that famous speech.
This. Has she done anything to really put some boots to the ground in relation to her speech? Or is the media still gushing about the one speech?
That last photo is all on the photographer and stylists. Very unflattering. But she’s such a beautiful young woman, and I think the cover at least does her a little justice. But for some reason the whole shoot does make her look really child-like, which is a shame because she’s absolutely lovely. Beautiful features.
I will always have a huge soft spot for my Hermy-own-ninny.
She is my girl crush. *sigh*
I do not mind what Vogue UK is saying – I think she is eloquent, educated, and takes time to consider both sides of the argument, which lends her to being declared “the voice of a generation”.
She’s beautiful but someone pointed out that she looks like Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit Trilogy) in this picture and I CAN’T UNSEE IT.
google her name and Richard Dawkins.
She posed for Vogue UK in 2010. And Lucinda Chambers – the fashion editor – said that Emma almost walked off the shoot because they didn’t have the clothes. That’s what she said: “I don’t research them because I don’t want to be intimidated by them. We got off the Eurostar and it was about midnight and there was no luggage. But when things are really disastrous I don’t panic. I had one dress. I said to Emma: ‘The good news is we have Mario Testino and the bad news is we have no clothes.’ She said: ‘I’ve waited 10 years for this and walked off.'” “The Eurostar train manager stole all the clothes… I had sunglasses on and one of the assistants had a hat on, which made up two shots…. Her whole attitude wasn’t happy, but I loved the shoot.”
When I saw this shoot, I wondered who did she pissed off because the styling isn’t great. And then I remembered this story, maybe that’s why they phoned it in this time XD
i remember this, too. she also said “she said she’d been waiting for this moment for 10 years. Her whole attitude wasn’t happy, but I loved the shoot.”
Emma also doesnt look too happy in this shoot.
Yes, she doesn’t look very happy. But also a little tired (she was doing rehearsals for beauty and the beast). She has lost some weight since 2011, especially in the face. It seems they had all the clothes this time, but even without some of the high couture dresses, the 2010 shoot was 10 times better, imo.
i know i’m not the only one here with the “huh? her?” face right now.
Voice of a generation? How pretentious. I wonder how much her publicist had to pay for that one.
I should stop getting riled up over things like this and move on. The bar is set so incredibly low for these people it’s pathetic. They say something quick witted or slightly interesting in an interview and suddenly they’re just super smart. No, they’re not insightful and they don’t have anything profound to say. They’re just repeating what their handlers tell them in the most PR friendly way. Case in point Skarsgard and his hit all the bullet points feminism.
Yup
She means well and she is interested in using her celeb status to bring attention to issues but… I don’t really feel that she has the charisma to pull it off. And I can’t even remember the last film she did. Maybe this will change in the future, but Harry Potter was a long time ago.
These photos are horrible. She looks like a rat!
I never thought she was beautiful, just average and relatable.
She’s like a young Kate Winslet.
Pretentious and over-rated.
People think she’s smart because she played a smart character in the HP series but honestly… Does anyone actually believe she wrote that speech herself?
Kate Winslet can act, has good screen presence and has some charisma. Emma has none of those qualities and she’s excruciatingly dull.
Exactly! She’s a terrible actress and just because she played a smart person doesn’t mean she is one. Very over-rated.
I really like the last photo. Then again, I am of the generation she is supposedly the ‘voice’ of… :/
Better her than Lena Dunham in my oppinion.
Luke Windsor’s oversold PR strikes again!
Also see: Hiddleston, Tom
I am a fan of Tom but i agree with you. I dont know why his PR sugar coats everything.
I don’t ‘get’ this.
While Emma is a young and famous actress as well as having a good image and at least dipping her toe into the topic of femisim that speech was so…101.
It was as if someone read a definition of feminism, thought it through and delivered a speech. I am not saying she was the wrong person to speak or her contribution should be dismissed but this is yet another example of her being hailed as this other-worldly VOICE of our generation to the point of being offensive.
SO many other young women, celebrity and otherwise, have delivered concrete and detailed talks on this subject with research to go with it and they’re ignored. It makes this topic of feminism seem merely like a popularity contest with no real interest in ever going beyond day 1.
Furthermore which ‘generation’ is she speaking for? I’m about the same age as her and at least in my circles she’s hardly a blip on the radar (which isn’t a bad thing, not everyone has to be a Kardashian) but she’s mostly kept quiet and not really done anything that shows she’s especially in tune with this generation or its problems.
I don’t know how everyone else feels, but here is my take. I have two daughters, 5 and almost 15. I want them to look at ME and how I worked and lived my life and use that as a positive role model for their lives, not an actress, model, or singer.
I went to college, worked full-time, got married, had kids, spent time with them, kept a home, we have great family memories. I want MY VOICE to matter to my girls. They shouldn’t have to read a magazine to look for a positive female influence.
You’re absolutely right to, congratulations on all your hard work and yes I think so much of being a successful and happy woman is holding together and fighting for the things you love given all challenges. My mother sounds a lot like you and I have witnessed her fighting for decades in different careers to make sure my family was secure.
She’s the epitome of “white girl” feminism where she simply has to say “poor women we aren’t treated good” and she’s patted on the back. She’s not the voice of this generation, she hasn’t said anything to earn that title? Where is she for the poc members of our generation? Where is she for the members of our generation in poverty? She’s said nothing special, she’s shown even less. I really don’t see the fuss about her, she’s an intelligent young woman but she’s not doing anything differently from any other starlet out there except knowing the meaning of feminism and being sober.
Indeed the photoshoot is not that flattering.
Wow, I hate these photos, but still really like her.
I’m surprised about the amount of hate she’s getting here. She’s educated, you never hear of any crazy antics from her and people are disappointed that she’s a United Nations Good Will Ambassador because she’s young and privileged and therefor not a good enough person to speak? Even if you think her speech wasn’t groundbreaking, it’s more than most young girls are saying and the amount of threats she got from it was staggering, yet she vowed to press on with it. I think she has a bright future and is going to do a lot of good in the world.
I somehow fail to see her a a “voice” of her generation, but on the other hand who IS that voice?
Has her generation a voice at all?
She looks young and sleepy here.
Emma looks beautiful, the hair is a mess and the make-up almost nonexistent, but she’s pretty enough to put it off.
I appreciate her effort to use her voice to something she believes. HeForShe is not perfect, but they are getting some changes, don’t know if you follow her on twitter, but Emma has posted some updates and they got the support of world leaders, corporations, universities, and some of these programs sound very interesting.
Ugh, can we Lindsey Lohan her already, and just make her as irrelevant as she deserves to be? There is no way the voice of my generation is as talentless, less than mediocre, and ignorant as she is