Emma Watson, widely recognized for her role as Hermione Granger in the beloved Harry Potter franchise, has surprised fans with an unexpected new “side quest.” Since starring in all eight Harry Potter films and later appearing in movies such as Little Women, Beauty and The Beast, Perks of Being a Wallflower, and The Bling Ring, Watson has stepped back from acting. Her last film role was in Little Women (2019). Since then, she has focused on her studies and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing at Oxford University, the city where she was born and raised.

In a surprising turn, Watson has immersed herself in student life at Oxford and taken on the role of coxswain for one of the university’s rowing teams. Photographs obtained by Mail Online show her sitting at the bow of the New College women’s third team’s boat in late May. In these images, she kept a low profile, wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses, a white cap, a white sleeveless polo shirt, and a life jacket.

The news and images have sparked reactions on Reddit, where Harry Potter fans expressed shock and amusement at Watson’s new activity, calling it an “insanely random side quest.” Some commenters imagined how surprising it would be to have Emma Watson as their coxswain. Others applauded her for embracing a sport or hobby and living a relatively normal student life. Comments included praise for her independence and enjoying “little side quests,” as well as admiration for her normalcy and unique hobby.

In an interview with Vogue in January 2024, Watson reflected on her decision to step back from acting. She expressed gratitude for gaining a sense of her own voice, creative space, and autonomy that she felt she lacked before. She appreciated allowing herself the freedom to be uncertain about her future, valuing the self-discovery that came with it.

Overall, Emma Watson’s transition from a high-profile acting career to student life and extracurricular involvement at Oxford, including coxing for a rowing team, highlights her pursuit of personal growth and new experiences beyond the entertainment industry.