早在《美女與野獸》開拍前，大家就對“誰能擔起貝拉角色的重任”表示困惑，這個充滿夢幻又隨時引起懷舊殺的電影女主，注定需要好的人緣和觀眾認可度。 

后來，艾瑪的加入不僅讓大家松了口氣，還增添了幾分驚喜。觀眾們的買賬程度已經達到一定高度，甚至在官方劇照還沒出爐之時，就已經ps了各種艾瑪版本的貝拉形象。 

而艾瑪·沃特森自己也尤其喜歡《美女與野獸》這個故事，她曾在臉書上公布參演消息時就說到，這個角色是她兒時的夢想，現在夢想成真了。 

"I'm finally able to tell you... that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to (songs) Be Our Guest and sing Something There. My six-year-old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it."

——Emma Watson