Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Emma Watson wants to focus her energy "on some new personal and professional opportunities"



[Version française]




Long story short, she won't be posting on Our Shared Shelf's page anymore but will continue to recommend books on her Instagram instead.

The "professional opportunities" part makes me hopeful, but it could be related to activism rather than cinema. But I hope not.

Full message:

Our Shared Shelf was a title dreamed up by YOU, all of the amazing individuals who support and contribute to creating conversations around intersectionality, feminism and equal rights. It was important to me that Our Shared Shelf was not owned by me, but indeed, SHARED! You offered me the perfect title, and I have been astonished, humbled and filled with gratitude by how shared it has felt, with over a million people all over the world now active in the club. To those who’ve written long thoughtful threads, to the incredible authors who’ve answered Our Shared Shelf questions, to the hundreds of people globally who’ve hidden feminist titles alongside me over these last three years, you’ve made my wishes come true; I am truly part of the greatest feminist ninja gang the world has ever seen! Most importantly a massive THANK YOU for being part of my little piece of mischief. To sum up all that I have learned from this community would be an impossible task. 
Circling back to the title for a moment. It annoyed me that Our Shared Shelf was constantly abbreviated to “O.S.S.”. The same letters (different order) as the international symbol for distress! However, over the years the three letters have developed their own beautiful meaning for me. This book club initially was my own kind of distress signal! Life, it turns out, can be difficult to navigate. We are often caught in the storm and lost at sea. The journey to becoming an independent thinker, activist and mischief maker is treacherous! OSS was my distress signal and call for help - and it came! It has become a beacon and guiding light. If you know someone sending out a jumbled distress signal, please pass on or tell them about OSS. Activism and change making can feel lonely. This is your tribe, this is your collective consciousness and we are raising it together.
At the beginning of every new year, and particularly so now as it is the beginning of a new decade, I’ve been prompted to look at my next steps. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking! First of all Happy 2020, it’s going to be an amazing year for all of you. This year I want to focus my energy on some new personal and professional opportunities and while I want to say YES to everything – it’s IMPOSSIBLE. 
What does this mean? Moving forward the OSS board will be unmoderated but remain open keeping intact all previous conversations. I will not be making the regular bi-monthly book announcement via the board, I will be making future book recommendations through Instagram using the hashtag #oursharedshelf instead. My wish is that this community continues to share and announce their own book recommendations with this hashtag keeping what we’ve built together alive and well for the future. I am excited to see it continue to grow and mature. I might just be reading along with you! Keep your eyes peeled as I announce other books later this year. 
Love 
Emma



If you have news to share (pictures, infos, scans...), please send an email to eden@emmawatson-updates.com
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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

This combined with her vogue interview tells me she’s trying to make a change in her life and career and I’m excited about it

Anonymous said...

It's disappointing, Our Shared Shelves was an interesting idea when she first started it.

Curious about the "personnal and professional opportunities" (if it's true and not just an excuse). Doubt it'll be acting... but maybe screenwriting or directing (a documentary could be interesting). I hope it won't be a book.

Eden said...

To the person whose comment I deleted, stop making the same whiny comment under almost each single article, it's tiring.

Gacek870 said...

Maybe it has something to do with Lady Margaret Hall. As I remember she was assigned there as an Associate Fellow. Just guessing.

Anonymous said...

Te lo agradecemos Eden

Unknown said...

Exciting times.

Anonymous said...

I don't think there is any deep and meaningful reason behind her quitting OSS other than she doesn't want to do it anymore.

She seems to throw herself into projects (eg People Tree, HeforShe, indie movies, OSS) and then at a certain point moves on.

As for "I want to focus my energy on some new personal and professional opportunities", well it sounds better than "I don't want to do OSS anymore".

I mean how time consuming would Emma's involvement be?

No issue with her quitting OSS, but I wouldn't anticipate it resulting in anything earth-shattering new........other than wedding bells perhaps???!!!!

Gacek870 said...

She has a tendency to move on from projects, but it is little sad, because this was the only constant thing she did in public eye for few last years. We will see what happens in the future.

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who thinks she might be hinting at not being an actress anymore either? Either way as long as she's happy doing whatever profession she chooses, I'm ok with that.

Anonymous said...

I also think her statement has much more to do with her private plans rather than with the professional ones.
But I can be wrong.
I thin the next future brings the answer to the question.
I really think Emma is not that kind of activist to dedicate herself entirely to any of the causes, even if she's very sensitive and has good intentions.
I think she's rather conservative in her day-to day life and would like to live her life quietly: having husband & children.

Anonymous said...

We see Emma less & less at some public events, appearances.
Maybe she's stepping down (not only from the moderator role of the OSS) but from her public life as well?
I believe her when she says that she's not very fond on the people's attention that's focusing on her. I think that she'd like to maintain a low-profile while her daily activities.
But I also think that it tickles her self-vanity (no one if free of it!) when she realizes how many people is following her on IG and what is her potential impact on an army of people...
I think there won't be any further announcement her private life related (there never were), but we may find out (paps' photos): she got engaged/marred/pregnant ;-)

Anonymous said...

I don't see how this is seen as 'exciting' times. I remember the excitement post Potter and what roles she will do next. Now in a new decade it's all so depressing.

Anonymous said...

OSS has been pretty much dead in terms of conversation the last couple of years so it makes sense she and the mods would step away. I do hope she finds what she is looking for in her next steps in life though, good luck to her.

Anonymous said...

Maybe... running for Parliament?

Jokes aside, this is disappointing to hear. OSS was a unique way for her to be connected to fans even with the distance, and be able to communicate with them on things she really seemed to enjoy and be involved in. I understand her not wanting to do it anymore after a while, but it is sad to see her leave from this.

Anonymous said...

Could she be pregnant? I didn't think it at first wearing that dress at the Little Women premiere. But tbh she has been wearing baggy clothes everywhere ever since...

Anonymous said...

About being pregnant: it was one of my first thoughts too!
I'm not convinced now though: it should be visible now and the last photo she posted on IG (although it's only a close-up) doesn't show her face has been changed (and I'd expect it would be a bit chubbier); but maybe I'm wrong.
I more than feel than think she'd like to live an ordinary life and become a mother soon.

Anonymous said...

It's probably cause its cold outside and she wants to be comfortable. But if she is she'll probably not announce it until later into the pregnancy. Or might keep it secret until her kid(s) are born.

Anonymous said...

I tought she could be pregnant when I see her at the LW premiere, too. But do you remember the photo with Harry Potter cast? She doesn't look pregnant at all! XD

Anonymous said...

You know a fandom is bored when it starts speculating a pregnancy based on clothes when there is a photo of her with a totally flat stomach at the HP reunion

Anonymous said...

IIRC, she said she'd cut her hair short again when she'll be pregnant ;). She seems to really want to get married and have a family but she's been less than a year with fake-jesus.

I hope "Queen of the Tearling" will finally be in production... Or maybe she'll do theater.

Anonymous said...

she's only been with her current bf a few months. She's had multiple 2+ year relationships.

I'd maybe calm down a bit on the speculation.