Emma Watson: 'I Watched Kardashians For Research'

Emma Watson has revealed that she prepared for her role inThe Bling Ring by watching US reality TV shows such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The former Harry Potter star plays celebrity-obsessed Nicki in the Sofia Coppola movie, which tells the story of the infamous "Burglar Bunch" - a group of teens and young people who stole from the houses of stars including Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom.

The 23-year-old told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival that she got into character by watching the same TV shows as the woman she was playing.

"I had a lot of work to do to get into character for Nicki," she explained. "I watched The Hills and Keeping Up With The Kardashians to understand her psychology.

"It's easy for her to feel like a parody and I had to understand and sympathise with her. That was the most difficult thing, second to learning the very specific dialect."

And Em also gave her two cents on the subject of reality TV stars.

"I think there are celebs who create a brand and create a business and a whole life out of other people's interests, and there are people who don't - who have a craft and a trade," she said.

"I think as long as people know the difference, it's okay. [In LA and Hollywood] I think if there's a demand for a type of show or type of image, people will supply it. I just think reality TV is another way of telling a story. It's a different type of acting but that's what it is."

And she also explained that she now felt she'd moved on from her role as Hermione in the Potter movies.

"Harry Potter feels like such a long time ago; so much has happened in the last three or four years, but obviously it's still very present, it's still being played in people's living rooms.

"I'm not trying to run away from it... but it's that I've had such an amazing three or four years having a chance to transform into new roles and work with new creative people."

The movie is released on 5 July in the UK.