Emma Watson made a subtle return to the spotlight as she arrived in France for the 2025 Cannes film festival, 12 years after she debuted her Sofia Coppola film The Bling Ring.
Emma Watson is returning to the spotlight.
The Harry Potter actress made her return to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival after a 12-year absence, putting her chic festival style on display as she arrived at the Nice Airport May 20.
Emma wore a floral skirt, black sweater and dark sunglasses paired with black flats as she hopped off the plane. She later traded in the look for another spring ensemble while at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, donning a sleeveless red and white checker print dress and a pair of boots. Keeping the Parisian sun out of her eyes, Emma rocked a pair of aviator style sunglasses.
For her last appearance at the festival in 2013, Emma showcased her style in pieces by Louis Vuitton and Chanel as she promoted the Sofia Coppola film, The Bling Ring. Aside from occasional film appearance including in 2019’s Little Women, Emma—who is dating Kieran Brown—has maintained a life out of the spotlight as works to obtain her master’s degree in literature from Oxford University.
Prior to her time in Cannes, Emma was spotted over the Valentine’s Day weekend at the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Oakland, Calif. In a clip shot by the ESPN TikTok account, the Circle actress was dressed casual in an all-black outfit as she blew a kiss to the camera.
Emma—who graduated from Brown University in 2014—made it clear that she’s happy with her decision to fall back from the public eye and acting after years of being into the spotlight.
“I get a front row seat [with] some of the most successful, beautiful, incredible people in the world,” she explained to British Vogue in 2023. “And when you have that seat it becomes very, very clear that there is just absolutely no level of success that will make you in any way happy or content if you do not like who you are or enjoy what you’re doing when no one’s watching.”