After a period of self-imposed quietude, British actress Emma Watson marked her 33rd birthday with an intimate Instagram post, offering a rare update on her life.
Emma, famed for her roles as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films and Belle in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, had retreated from the limelight in recent years and taken a hiatus from acting.
Her most recent Hollywood appearance was in the 2019 film Little Women.
MORE: Emma Watson shares the heartbreaking moment she almost quit Harry Potter
In a weekend post to her 70 million followers, she wrote: "This is 33. Holy moly. Before 29, I hadn’t even heard of a Saturn Return as a concept. Let’s just say that now I am well acquainted."
The astrological concept of a "Saturn Return" signifies the planet's return to its position at one's birth every 27-29 years, marking a transition into adulthood.
Emma added: "I stepped away from my life."
During her break, Watson learned to surf, rode horses, participated in therapy, and adopted a dog named Sofia.
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She took part in a Harry Potter reunion, bid farewell to her grandparents, established a women's environmental investment fund, and played pickleball with Sugar Ray Leonard. She also directed her first commercial.
Sharing photos from her previous birthday, Emma confessed she wasn't ready to leave her "Covid cocoon" at that time but now feels like a butterfly.
She expressed gratitude to her close friends, whom she refers to as her "witches in my coven," and her brother Alex Watson.
Her return to Instagram coincides with news of a new development in the Harry Potter franchise.
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HBO Max plans to adapt JK Rowling's seven novels into a TV series.
The live-action series will be a "decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love, and care this global franchise is known for," according to a statement from HBO Max.
Introducing an entirely new cast, the series aims to bring Harry Potter to a new generation of fans while staying true to the original books.
The classic films will continue to be available for worldwide viewing. No casting details have been disclosed yet.
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