It's as if someone cast a quick "Switching" spell and the two girls exchanged places. Because when Watson brings Granger to life on screen, her work seeks effortless.

Watson auditioned for the role of Hermione Granger during a casting call in the gymnasium at her school in Oxford. Driven solely by curiosity, Watson had no idea that she would be sealing her fate by trying out for the part. She was just 10 years old - and the only acting experience she had was performing in school plays. Watson was cast out of thousands of would-be Hermiones.

Producers were impressed by the young woman’s ability to be direct, but appealing, and they cast her as the brainy, good-hearted Granger. In 2001, Watson made her film debut in 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' and breathed life into the mousy-haired female lead in J.K. Rowling's books; and in 2002, Watson reprised the role in the second film, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.'

In the first two films, Granger's role in the series was just warming up. But in 2004, in the third installment in the 'Harry Potter' series, 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,' Watson’s character takes a new turn. Her role is more prominent in the film – described by critics to be the darkest and most thrilling of the three films to date (and Watson's favorite) - and as seen in the film's trailer, she even socks bully Draco Malfoy. "Hermione is rock 'n roll in this film," Watson told The Sun newspaper.

"I like the way she's developing," Watson told the Chicago Sun-Times. "She's maturing, growing up. Emotionally, she's becoming more independent…and more interesting to play."

Watson wishes she could have performed more of Granger's stunts herself, but playing the role time and again was not like receiving a basket of chocolate frogs (which, though pleasant to some, would not be Hermione's choice dessert). "I might as well have been in the army," Watson said of the grueling on-set work to The Daily News of Los Angeles. She suffered several bumps and bruises while filming the troll scene in the girl's bathroom in the first film.

That a 14-year-old girl with little-to-no acting experience has been able to skillfully bring one of J.K. Rowling's greatest characters to life - and handle ten to twelve hour working days, countless interviews and press junkets and still have time to study and hang out with her friends – seems a trick all its own. But that's a secret Watson isn't likely to share – or stop practicing - anytime soon. "I think I could be 100 years old and in my rocker, but I'll still be very proud to say I was in the 'Harry Potter' films," Watson told Newsday.

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- by Kerry L. Smith