Watson calls 'animal' remark a compliment

LONDON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- British actress Emma Watson says she has decided to take as a compliment a remark her "Harry Potter" co-star Daniel Radcliffe made about the way she kisses.

Radcliffe, who plays the titular wizard in the fantasy film franchise, joked in a recent interview that Watson, who plays Hermione, smooched him like an animal for a scene in their latest flick "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1." The embrace was part of a nightmarish vision Hermione's love interest and Harry's best friend Ron, played by Rupert Grint, had about the pair.

"I think, obviously, for the scene, it had to be something that would really disturb Ron, that would make him really jealous, that would make him upset, so I think the kiss had to be passionate from Hermione's end," the 20-year-old actress told reporters at a London news conference. "As for whether I myself -- he called me an animal even I think I read in one interview -- I guess I should just take it as a compliment."

That said, she recalled mentioning her surprised reaction to Radcliffe's comments when they started promoting the film together.

"I said, 'You've been telling everyone I pounced on you and was really aggressive!' And he said, 'I didn't use those words. I just said … ' And I was like, 'Whatever, Dan.' He said, 'I gave you 10 out of 10 for kissing.' So as long as it was positive," she said.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" is in theaters now.