Emma Watson has backed a new initiative from the BFI and Bafta to tackle sexual harassment in the film industry.
Any project seeking funding from the BFI will be required to sign the set of eight principles, which were developed in association with Bafta.
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Emma Watson
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They outline a zero-tolerance approach to any form of harassment and a shared responsibility to create a respectful workplace.
The former Harry Potter actress appears in a promotional video for the initiative, which she hopes will “become second nature for everyone” in the industry.
“They are not just about protecting individuals but are also an important step in embracing a greater diversity of voices - and eventually having an entertainment industry that actually represents the world we live in,” she said.
“These principles are important because up until recently there were no guidelines.
“There was no protocol for someone that had been sexually harassed in the entertainment industry and I know this to be a fact because I’ve asked for principles, I’ve asked to see guidelines and no one could give them to me.
“No one could say to me: ‘Okay, here’s the protocol that we follow when someone’s had this experience’. Which I found shocking.”
Speaking in the wake of the numerous accusations made against Harvey Weinstein, she told Variety: “My experiences are not unique, the experiences of my friends are not unique, the experiences of my colleagues are not unique.
“This issue is so systemic, structural.”
She continued: “The statistics around – even in the United Kingdom – women between the ages of 18 to 24, huge, huge, huge numbers say that they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.”
“You realise, if you speak to most women, they have an experience, they have a story. We’re just uncovering. We’re just scratching the surface of this, which is what’s really crazy.”
Emma is one of the 300 women who launched the Time’s Up iniative, which funds legal support for people who have been sexually harassed at work.
9 Times Emma Watson Lived And Breathed Feminism
On objectification...(01 of09)
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Watson didn't hold back when addressing the Vanity Fair outrage. She told Reuters: “It just always reveals to me how many misconceptions and what a misunderstanding there is about what feminism is.
"Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality.
"I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it. It’s very confusing." (credit:Vanity Fair)
On beauty standards...(02 of09)
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The actress has spoken out on numerous occasions about the beauty standards that women are held to and is a champion of 'being yourself'.
“I don’t have perfect teeth. I’m not stick thin. I want to be the person who feels great in her body and can say that she loves it and doesn’t want to change anything,” she said.
Working in the film industry, which is undeniably ageist when it comes to women, she said: "I’m excited about the ageing process. I’m more interested in women who aren’t perfect. They’re more compelling." (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
On involving men in the gender equality fight...(03 of09)
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In 2014, Watson helped launch UN Women's #HeForShe campaign, which encourages men and boys to take action against negative inequalities faced by women and girls.
At the time Watson, who is UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, said: "I am reaching out to you because I need your help. We want to end gender inequality - and to do that we need everyone to be involved. This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN: we want to try and galvanise as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality. And we don’t just want to talk about it, but make sure it is tangible." (credit:Rob Kim via Getty Images)
On finding feminism...(04 of09)
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Watson said she first started questioning gender-based assumptions when she was eight years old and hasn't looked back since.
"At eight I was confused at being called 'bossy', because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents - but the boys were not," she recalled in a #HeForShe speech.
She said that aged 14, she began to be "sexualised" by the media, and aged 15 her friends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear "muscly".
"I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me," she concluded. (credit:Jim Spellman via Getty Images)
On the gender pay gap...(05 of09)
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Overall, women can expect to earn significantly less than men over their entire careers. According to The Fawcett Society, the current overall pay gap for full time workers is 13.9%.
Discussing this stat, Watson said: "The reality is that if we do nothing, it will take 75 years, or for me to be nearly 100, before women can expect to be paid the same as men, for the same work."
She added: “I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts.” (credit:Pacific Press via Getty Images)
On playing Belle in 'Beauty And The Beast'...(06 of09)
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When you think of feminism, Disney princesses aren't exactly the first (or indeed second) thing that spring to mind. But Watson hopes to change this.
Discussing her character in the remake of Disney classic 'Beauty And The Beast', Watson said that her character takes on the role of inventor, which was Belle's father's role in the original storyline.
She added that Belle is "absolutely a Disney princess, but she's not a passive character - she's in charge of her own destiny". (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
On battling stereotypes...(07 of09)
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Watson is also a fierce opponent of the stereotypes that hold young women and girls back. She said: "I feel like young girls are told that they have to be a princess and fragile. It’s bullshit. I identify much more with being a warrior – a fighter. If I was going to be a princess, I’d be a warrior princess."
She also previously said that young girls should never 'dumb themselves down' with the aim of being attractive to a guy and added: "Girls should never be afraid to be smart." (credit:Rindoff/Dufour via Getty Images)
On her feminist book club...(08 of09)
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In the spirit of promoting gender equality and championing strong women, Emma Watson launched a feminist book club called "Our Shared Shelf", which is conducted through a group on Goodreads and has more than 37,000 members. In true feminist fashion, the first book Watson chose was Gloria Steinem's memoir 'My Life on the Road'. (credit:VALERIE MACON via Getty Images)
“The minute I stood up and spoke about women’s rights I was immediately threatened,” she said. “This is a real thing that’s happening now, women are receiving threats.”
She said the threats made her even more determined to fight for gender equality. “People thought I’d be disheartened by this, but if anything it made me so much more determined,” she said.