Harry Potter star Emma Watson wears see-through dress on hike with hunky personal trainer

Harry Potter star Emma Watson was spotted out and about on a hike in Saint Tropez in a little black dress.

The British actress explored the coastal town on the French Riviera in her interesting activewear attire, layering the racy long-sleeved cover-up over her bold red bikini while wearing a pair bright turquoise sneakers.

Accompanied by her hunky personal trainer, Watson also piled on the accessories, wearing two beaded charm necklaces, gold earrings, several rings and black sunglasses.

The public outing is a rare sighting of the actress, who in 2023 made the decision to step away from acting for the time being.

“I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before – more autonomy,” she told British Vogue early last year.

It’s clear Watson has been working on her fitness since stepping off movie sets.

Earlier this year, she competed on the rowing team at England’s prestigious Oxford University, where she has been studying since 2023, in the school’s annual rowing regatta on the Thames River.

“I get a front-row seat [with] some of the most successful, beautiful, incredible people in the world,” she said of her life on campus. “And when you have that seat it becomes very, very clear that there is just absolutely no level of success that will make you in any way happy or content if you do not like who you are or enjoy what you’re doing when no one’s watching.”

Before her hiatus, Watson has experienced success on films such as Little Women, Beauty and the Beast and, of course, the Harry Potter films.

She first appeared on the franchise aged just 11 before going on to star in all eight films, playing the beloved Hermione Granger.

Watson reunited with the cast for the much-hyped Harry Potter reunion in 2022, which saw the core cast head back to the Warner Bros. set for the first time since they filmed the last movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, more than a decade ago.

Speaking during the televised reunion special, Watson admitted to struggling with early fame.

“I did find a diary entry [from the time] that was kind of like … I could see that at times I was lonely. The fame thing had really hit home in a big way,” she said at the time.

“I think I was scared,” Watson told co-star Rupert Grint. “I don’t know if you ever felt like it got to a tipping point where you were like, ‘This is kind of forever now.’”

The outing comes one month after Watson was banned from driving in the UK for six months after getting caught driving her blue Audi at 61km/h in a 48km/h zone in Oxford in July 2024.

Watson, who wasn’t in court for the hearing, was banned from driving after accumulating more than nine penalty points, and was ordered to pay a £1,044 ($AU2146.05) fine.

Despite the setback, fans have continued to rally behind her, praising her resilience and ability to balance academic life with personal challenges. Many admire the way she has shifted her energy towards personal growth and intellectual pursuits rather than rushing back into the spotlight.

Watson’s decision to prioritize education and well-being reflects a new chapter in her life. By stepping away from Hollywood, she has been able to explore passions outside of acting, from writing and activism to engaging with her peers at Oxford. Her choices highlight a grounded perspective on fame—one that places value on self-identity and purpose over constant visibility.

Her journey has also inspired discussions about the pressures of child stardom. Growing up on camera shaped her adolescence in unique and often difficult ways, but her openness about loneliness and fear has resonated with many who understand the emotional cost of early success. By addressing these challenges openly, Watson continues to connect with her audience on a deeper level.

In recent years, Watson has also remained active in philanthropy and women’s rights advocacy. She has long been a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and is best known for launching the HeForShe campaign, which continues to spark conversations about gender equality worldwide. Even during her time away from acting, these efforts remain a core part of her identity.

Whether seen in her activism, academic life, or rare public outings, Watson maintains a balance of elegance and authenticity that has defined her career from the very beginning. Fans look forward to what she chooses to do next, whether that means a return to the screen or continuing to forge a path as a scholar, advocate, and creative thinker.