U.N. Women names actress Emma Watson goodwill ambassador

[July 09, 2014] UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations' gender equality body UN Women on Tuesday appointed British actress Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione in the "Harry Potter" film series, as a goodwill ambassador to advocate for the empowerment of young women.

"Being asked to serve as UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador is truly humbling," Watson, 24, said in a statement.

"Women's rights are something so inextricably linked with who I am, so deeply personal and rooted in my life, that I can't imagine an opportunity more exciting," she said.

Watson's films have grossed more than $5.4 billion worldwide over the past decade, according to the Internet Movie Database. She graduated from Brown University in May with a bachelor's degree in English literature.

Other UN Women goodwill ambassadors include Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol.

(Reporting by Mirjam Donath, editing by G Crosse)

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