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Actress and women's rights activist, Emma Watson, turns 25

By Marilyn Malara
Emma Watson arrives on the red carpet at the New York Premiere of Noah at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on March 26, 2014. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 6 | Emma Watson arrives on the red carpet at the New York Premiere of Noah at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on March 26, 2014. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and actress Emma Watson has a lot to show for her 25 years on earth. She celebrates her birthday Wednesday, April 15.

The Harry Potter actress appeared as Hermione Granger, the strong-willed brain of the famous trio's operation, for the all of the franchise's eight installments. Since completing the series in 2011, Watson has starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, This Is the End, and Noah and is set to star in Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

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Not only has her acting career exploded after Harry Potter, the star also took social activism into her own hands. She started actively working for the expansion of women's rights in 2010, when she visited Bangladesh and Zambia as part of her humanitarian efforts.

The United Nations appointed her as Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, a position from which Watson launched the He For She social campaign promoting gender equality.

RELATED PHOTOS: Emma Watson through the years

In a speech delivered at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Watson explained her decision to be a feminist.

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"When I was 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn't want to appear 'muscley.' When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings," she said.

"I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me...I think it is a right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to have these rights."

In October of last year, Watson was featured the cover of Elle's feminism issue. She called it her "favorite magazine cover ever."

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