This Is Why Emma Watson Turned Down ‘Cinderella’ But Not ‘Beauty And The Beast’

“There’s this kind of outsider quality that Belle had, and the fact she had this really empowering defiance of what was expected of her,” Watson said of the character. Ultimately, the actress found Belle to be the better princess when it came to empowering young women—especially in today’s political climate. 

“In a strange way, she challenges the status quo of the place she lives in, and I found that really inspiring.” Watson continued. “She manages to keep her integrity and have a completely independent point of view. She’s not easily swayed by other people’s perspective—not swayed by fear-mongering or scapegoating.” (Get tons of routines that will help you squeeze in quickie workouts with Women’s Health’s 20 Minute Workouts DVD.)

Needless to say, we can’t wait to see Watson’s take on our favorite bookish heroine in the film, which hits theatres March 17.

Take a look behind the scenes of our cover shoot with actress Kaley Cuoco: