Feminist actress Emma Watson has defended her decision to star in Beauty and the Beast, refuting claims the Disney classic is about an abusive relationship.
The actress stars as bookish heroine Belle in the live action remake out March 23 and dismissed allegations her character is trapped in an unhealthy relationship with her captor, Beast.
"It's such a good question and it's something I really grappled with at the beginning; the kind of Stockholm Syndrome question about this story," Watson told Entertainment Weekly.
"That's where a prisoner will take on the characteristics of and fall in love with the captor. Belle actively argues and disagrees with [Beast] constantly. "
"She has none of the characteristics of someone with Stockholm Syndrome because she keeps her independence, she keeps that freedom of thought."
Watson, who shot to fame after playing Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter film series, today works as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, travelling to countries such as Zambia to promote education for girls, and is a self-described feminist.
Beauty and the Beast, originally a 1991 Disney animated film, is based on 1740 French fairy tale La Belle et la Bete by author Gabrielle-Suzanna Barbot de Villeneuve, is premised on Belle sacrificing herself after Beast captures her father for picking a rose in his garden.
The pair fall in love with Beast revealed to be a prince.
But Watson argued that Belle holds her own against Beast, "giving him hell" until the pair become friends. She also said their love story was a lot more meaningful than other Disney classics.
"In fact, she gives as good as she gets. He bangs on the door, she bangs back. There's this defiance that 'You think I'm going to come and eat dinner with you and I'm your prisoner? Absolutely not,'" Watson said.
"I think that's the other beautiful thing about the love story. They form a friendship first. The love builds out of that, which in many ways I actually think is more meaningful than a lot of love stories, where it was love at first sight."
Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens stars alongside Watson as Beast in the remake which coincides with the film's 25th anniversary.
Beauty and the Beast hits Australian cinemas on March 24.
