Emma Watson may have swapped acting for studying at Oxford University – but her palatial new home screams far more Hollywood star than grungy student.
I hear that Emma, below, who rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has splashed out on a multi-million pound house in the affluent Oxford enclave of Jericho.
Emma, 35, who is reading for a DPhil – Oxford’s version of a PhD – has added a touch of character to her new abode, hanging a Snoopy flag, right, outside the nine-bedroomed mansion.
I imagine Emma, who recently broke up with fellow Oxford student Kieran Brown, will enjoy hosting raucous parties at the property, especially as I hear she has installed a sauna and Jacuzzi.
She was spotted last month on a date with a mystery man beside the river Isis at Port Meadow, Oxford, where they enjoyed a Bridesheadian pastime – al fresco painting.
Last year she split from Brandon Green, son of former British Home Stores tycoon Sir Philip Green, following an 18-month romance.
Emma, who starred in the film Little Women in 2019, has been at Oxford for two years, after she decided to take a hiatus from her acting career to do a master’s degree in creative writing at Lady Margaret Hall.
The former United Nations ambassador made headlines recently when she was banned from driving for six months for speeding in Banbury Road, Oxford.
She was fined £650, reduced because of her guilty plea, and told to pay court costs of £120 and a £264 surcharge.
While she may not be able to get behind the wheel, Emma is partial to rowing down the Isis.
As I revealed in June, she coxed for a New College crew in Oxford’s Summer Eights rowing regatta. To her dismay though, Emma and her team finished last.
Imagine what swotty perfectionist Hermione Granger would say!
Keira’s man is now the bigger star…
Keira Knightley may be one of our most-loved stars but she has competition when it comes to bagging big-screen roles – her musician husband James Righton.
Over the past two years, James has been credited as a composer on seven TV or film projects, while Keira, 40, has acted in four over the same period.
It seems that James, 41, who also put together the musicians for the Abba Voyage show, is far too busy to entertain the idea of a reunion with his old band, Klaxons.
What a relief for Keira, who won’t lose her husband’s help at home with their two girls for a life on the road!
Wills and Kate are tickled pink
I hear that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been very enthusiastic about a certain brand of rosé lately – and no, it’s not Meghan’s As Ever.
William reportedly found a new £20 bottle called Apres so quaffable he wrote to its founder Toby Irons to say how much he and Kate had enjoyed the Provencal wine.
Toby, who launched the brand last year, told me: ‘I thought this was amazing.’
Meanwhile, over in Montecito, Meghan has announced a restock of her own As Ever rosé… coincidence, or yet another corking piece of royal rivalry?
Cheers to Rory Guinness!
On the subject of booze, cheers to Rory Guinness, part of the brewing dynasty, who celebrated his birthday last week in un-aristocratic fashion by taking over the Paddington Railway Working Men’s Club in Notting Hill.
Usually the haunt of train drivers, the club was swarming with high-society types for the night, including Lady Martha Sitwell.
But the most delicious detail? The posh lot were merrily guzzling pints of Guinness for £4 – about half the price revellers often pay for the stout in the capital.
Donna seeks some fresh air
Has the Cotswolds lost its cool? Donna Air seems to think so.
The TV star, right, has just put her country retreat there on the market for £3million.
Perhaps Donna, who has a daughter with her ex, conservationist Damian Aspinall, has had enough of the celeb enclave.
And who could blame her, after it emerged that US Vice President J.D. Vance is planning a holiday in the area? Who’ll flee next?
Let it be, Sir Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney just can’t let it be when it comes to the impending Beatles biopic where he’s being played by Paul Mescal.
I’m told the 83-year-old legend has been popping by the set, and was spotted on Wednesday deep in conversation with crew members and even the costume department.
Rumour has it Macca’s taking a more hands-on approach this time round, perhaps still smarting from earlier Beatles films such as Nowhere Boy.
The star didn’t like that Thomas Brodie-Sangster, playing him, was shorter than Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who played John Lennon – when in real life they were the same height.
This time, he seems keen to ensure every last detail comes together, right now…
SPOTTED
- Pop superstar Dua Lipa, left, tucking into a steak at Cafe Cecilia in Hackney, East London, before being mobbed by fans.
- Actor Jude Law, the Duchess of York and actress Jamie Lee Curtis dining at Claridge’s – alas, not at the same table.
- Lord Ivar Mountbatten’s newly engaged daughter, Ella, with her fiance Fergus Wright, riding around Notting Hill on Lime bikes between house viewings as they search for a marital home.
