Emma Watson Was a Modern Day Princess at the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Premiere in London

Enchanting ever after. Actress Emma Watson looked like a modern day princess at the London premiere of Beauty and the Beast on Thursday, February 23, and she channeled her on-screen character Belle.

The award-winning actress, 26, captivated photographers and fans in an off-the-shoulder, bespoke gown with a long, matching cape. She shared the inspiring story behind the one-of-a-kind Emilia Wickstead piece on The Press Tour’s Instagram page, a new account created to document Watson’s earth-friendly attire throughout the tour.

Tonight was a special screening of @beautyandthebeast in London. The film was shown at the Odeon Leicester Square cinema to 1,600 people after a reception at the stunning Spencer House 🌹 Bespoke @emiliawickstead structural, off-the-shoulder gown with inverted pleat train. The gown is made from end-of-line fabric sourced from a family-run, London business specialising in couture fabrics, and produced in Italy. These unwanted fabric pieces have been given a new lease of life; often irregular quantities of surplus or end-of-line fabrics cannot be sold and are destroyed. This piece was created in Emilia Wickstead’s London atelier, by an all-female team. Earrings are from @catbirdnyc, whose pieces are handmade in Brooklyn. Dress validated by @ecoage #ecoloves Skin prepped with @demamielskin Dewy Facial Mist, @tataharper Repairative Moisturiser and @decleoruk Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Oil Serum. De Mamiel mist is made from ingredients sourced and blended in the UK, in small batches to maintain the vitality of each natural ingredient. Tata Harper are verified by PETA that neither the brand nor its ingredient suppliers conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products. Decléor serum is a blend of naturally derived ingredients such as neroli and sandalwood and free from mineral oils and parabens. Foundation is @inikaorganic’s BB Cream, which is certified organic, vegan and not tested on animals. Concealer is the @rmsbeauty “Un” Cover-Up made from organic coconut, jojoba and cacao oil and mineral colours. Cheeks are @iliabeauty A Fine Romance Multi-Stick which is gluten-free and then finished with Inika’s Mineral Mattifying Powder, blended from silica, corn, tapioca and rice powders instead of talc, which face powders have traditionally been based on. Beauty brands verified by @contentbeauty

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Feb 23, 2017 at 3:26pm PST

“The gown is made from end-of-line fabric sourced from a family-run, London business specialising in couture fabrics, and produced in Italy,” the caption read. “These unwanted fabric pieces have been given a new lease on life; often irregular quantities of surplus or end-of-line fabrics cannot be sold and destroyed. This piece was created in Emilia Wickstead’s London atelier by an all-female team.”

Stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray assisted Watson ahead of the appearance. Along with the whimsical gown, the actress wore simple hoop earrings by Brooklyn-based jeweler, Catbird, and pulled her hair into a chic updo.

Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon knew, in part, that Watson was the perfect choice for the coveted leading role solely based on her presence. “With actors who get to choose their roles, you look at their resumes and you start to see a kind of autobiography emerge,” the director told Entertainment Weekly. “From what I’d seen of Emma, she seemed to be the person, both on-screen and off, who best reflected the qualities that Belle embodied.”

Watson added in a separate interview with Elle UK, “For me, Beauty was the perfect, most joyful thing to do. There was something connected about Hermione and Belle, and it was good to be reminded that I am an actress; this is what I do. The film is pure escapism.”

Beauty and the Beast hits theaters March 17.