Buzz
Emma Watson is prepared to be 'not beautiful' in Beauty and the Beast to safeguard her own voice.
The costumes of Disney princesses always draw the audience's attention in adaptation projects. If you were once captivated by the beautiful ball gown of Cinderella in 2015, the majority of the audience is now perplexed, even finding it tedious when admiring Belle's outfit in Beauty and the Beast. In reality, Emma Watson, the lead playing Belle, made numerous alterations to the character, especially to the gown, leading to somewhat tepid results.
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Emma Watson shared that she suggested numerous changes to Belle compared to the original or the Disney animated version. 'What does Belle do in her free time? She doesn't feel lonely just because she's passionate about reading,' Emma Watson said. Thus, the actress desires Belle to have a profound story, leading to the team deciding to transform Belle into an inventor like her father.
Not stopping there, the changes to make the protagonist of Beauty and the Beast stronger and more independent by Emma Watson also involve rejecting the use of a corset. In the past, a corset was a type of clothing to shape women's gowns, coming in various styles. However, many types of corsets exerted pressure, constraining to shape the 'wasp waist' of beauties. A notable example is the blue gown of Cinderella, where the presence of a corset made it more voluminous and exquisite.
However, Emma Watson declined this approach. According to designer Jacqueline Durran, from Watson's perspective, Belle is an active girl. Therefore, Belle certainly wouldn't want to encase herself in a corset that causes significant hindrance. On the other hand, Emma Watson is also a renowned women's rights activist, thus not wanting to perpetuate the image of the Disney princess as 'passive' as in the old days.
That's when the corset completely disappears from Belle's gown, sparking heated debates. Despite many praising Emma Watson's decision, quite a few viewers believe that the absence of the corset made the dress much less vibrant. Compared to the attire of 'Cinderella' Lily James, Belle's gown appears entirely subdued, resembling more of a costume than a Disney-invested creation.
In the end, Beauty and the Beast remains a commercially successful adaptation, but Emma Watson's significant changes to the story and the character image of Belle remain a contentious topic among the audience.
Image Source: Disney
