The evidence of her success is compelling. At nine years old, she was among thousands of girls vying to play the coveted role of Hermione and her eagerness to thrive at the character slowed down shooting during Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. "I wanted everything to be so perfect. I would work so hard to memorize my lines and the scene; we would have to stop shooting because I was mouthing Rupert [Grint]'s and Dan [Radcliffe]'s lines at the same time. That's something I had to get over."

Seven years later, the young actor has graduated to blockbuster star status. She's learned to position herself in her best light, she's stopped looking straight into the camera, she knows the different between the key grip and a dolly, and she's just wrapped one of her most challenging scenes in the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, slated for release in July 2009. "I had to cry for the first time when Hermione watches Ron kiss Lavender. It was difficult to bring up all that emotion and hurt in front of a full crew, and not just once, but over and over again from different angles."

She loves Balenciaga: "I wore an amazing dress to their store opening in London."

Favourite film heroine: "Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice because Sophie retains her dignity and grace throughout horrific experiences."

Beauty must-haves: Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Colour in Enthusiast and Kanebo 38 degrees C Silk Performance Mascara ("It's so amazing.")