早在《美女与野兽》开拍前，大家就对“谁能担起贝拉角色的重任”表示困惑，这个充满梦幻又随时引起怀旧杀的电影女主，注定需要好的人缘和观众认可度。 

后来，艾玛的加入不仅让大家松了口气，还增添了几分惊喜。观众们的买账程度已经达到一定高度，甚至在官方剧照还没出炉之时，就已经ps了各种艾玛版本的贝拉形象。 

而艾玛·沃特森自己也尤其喜欢《美女与野兽》这个故事，她曾在脸书上公布参演消息时就说到，这个角色是她儿时的梦想，现在梦想成真了。 

"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