Emma Watson needs to sort out her priorities.

Who would say no to the chance of portraying the most iconic Disney princess ever?

The 2015 live action film, Cinderella, turned Lily James into a fairy tale novelty. The film received acclaimed reviews, grossed more than half a billion dollars worldwide and scored an Academy Award nomination.

However, before Lily James secured the role, it was actually offered to Emma Watson, but the actress turned it down.

Lucky for us though, we get to see Emma Watson portray another equally spellbinding and iconic Disney princess in the upcoming live action film, Beauty and the Beast.

As to why she chose Beauty and the Beast after turning down Cinderella, in the latest issue of Total Film magazine, Watson shares that, “I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did…I don’t feel like I particularly fitted in when I was younger. 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. In a strange way, she challenges the status quo of the place she lives in and I found that really inspiring.”

There’s no doubt that the characters of Cinderella and Belle are familiar to us all. Personality wise, both female leads are different and strong in their own ways. While Cinderella is kind-hearted, honest, works hard and battles being treated unfairly, Belle’s a known book-worm. She is brave, compassionate and battles judgement and narrow-mindedness.

Both are their own characters and stand individually for strong, different  women. We don’t need them battling it out like this:

For Emma, it’s hard not to immediately associate her playing Belle with Harry Potter and her internationally  recognised portrayal of brave and intellectual Hermione Granger.

Looks like Granger…whoops, I mean, Watson, isn’t straying too far from her acting roots, except this time she’s the starring role and a princess. At the time of turning down Cinderella, she was also unaware that in the future she’d be asked to play Belle.

Watson, who is a known activist on feminist issues, has also expressed that she believes Belle is more like the role model she wants to portray to younger audiences. The actress is passionate and intent on presenting a positive, strong and inspiring role model, that she only accepted the role after agreeing with director, Bill Condon, to develop the classic character in a collaborative process with her inputs.

So, sorry Ronald Weasley, but Emma’s got her priorities straight as to what kind of character she chooses to represent.

What role would you want to see Emma Watson in next? With her new found singing abilities, maybe a musical?

Beauty and the Beast will be in cinemas March 17.