Do you think fame makes people happy?
Would you give up money for peace of mind?
Today, Jay sits down with Emma Watson, actress, activist, and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, for a rare and deeply personal conversation. Beloved around the world as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, Emma has since become a powerful voice for gender equality and sustainability. In this exclusive interview, Emma reflects on her decision to step away from Hollywood and shares how time for study and self-discovery has allowed her to redefine success, find fulfillment, and reclaim her voice.
Emma shares the challenges of growing up in the public eye, carrying enormous responsibility from such a young age, and the courage it took to step back from a thriving career to prioritize her health and personal growth. She reflects on how fame blurred the lines between who she was and the roles she played, and how learning to embrace vulnerability, discomfort, and imperfection has become central to her growth.
Together, Jay and Emma explore the power of speaking truth with kindness, the importance of creating art from personal experience, and why building authentic relationships rooted in honesty and care matters more than any external achievement.
In this interview, you'll learn:
How to Be Honest With Yourself
How to Learn From Discomfort
How to Embrace Failure as a Starting Point
How to Separate Who You Are From What You Do
How to Build Truly Supportive Friendships
How to Step Away While Staying True to Yourself
How to Speak Truth With Kindness
How to Live Aligned With Your Values
Every day is a chance to pause, return to what matters most, and take even the smallest step toward living with honesty and purpose. You’re allowed to evolve, to begin again, and to create a life that feels whole and meaningful, one choice, one conversation, one truth at a time.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:35 Choosing to Show Up for Yourself
05:50 Designing a Life You Truly Enjoy
09:09 Admitting When Life is Challenging
11:06 Rediscovering the Joy of Learning
17:27 Why Discomfort Can Be Your Greatest Teacher
21:13 Taking Accountability With Grace and Courage
23:10 Sensitivity as Your Superpower
26:16 Lessons From a Nontraditional Childhood
30:38 Do You Still Need the Spotlight?
34:16 The Healing Power of Taking a Pause
41:38 Living Under Intense Public Pressure
44:55 Living Between Two Worlds
49:15 How Did You Become Hermione?
54:03 Separating Self From the Role You Play
57:54 The Hidden Cost of Never Slowing Down
01:07:40 Dating is Complicated For Everyone!
01:09:57 Revealing the Real You to Others
01:11:44 Emma’s One-Woman Play
01:20:08 What is Real Love?
01:26:27 Finding Love Beyond the Fantasy
01:32:35 Facing the Question: Why Are You Not Married Yet?
01:38:47 Trust Versus Telling the Truth
01:41:29 Choosing Partnership, Not Obligation
01:44:56 Asking Yourself the Hard Questions
01:48:25 How Fame Reshapes Everyday Life
01:51:44 What Did It Really Take to Step Away?
01:56:45 Learning to Trust Your Inner Voice
02:00:21 Loving Yourself Without Judgment
02:05:45 Finding Acceptance in Community
02:08:00 What Makes a Real Friend?
02:13:58 What Work Are You Avoiding?
02:32:20 Honoring the People Who Shape Us
02:44:01 Remembering Our Shared Humanity
Episode Resources:
Emma Watson | Instagram
Emma Watson | Facebook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty 
