Emma Watson says the 'Harry Potter' cast keep in touch via a "WhatsApp chat".

Emma Watson

Emma Watson

The 26-year-old actress starred as Hermione Granger in the popular fantasy film franchise, and has said her cast mates - including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint - still keep in contact with one another.

Speaking at the Hollywood premiere of her newest venture 'Beauty and the Beast' - in which she plays Belle - Emma said: "We actually have a group WhatsApp which invited everyone really from the main cast from 'Harry Potter' to come to the screening. It's a case of trying to, like, get people into the right places, but yeah, everyone has been very supportive and I'm very supported by my old co-stars."

And Emma also admitted that taking on the role of Belle was harder than playing Hermione, because she was more aware of "bringing to life" people's childhoods this time around.

She added to 'Entertainment Tonight': "Playing Hermione when I was a child ... was kind of an 'ignorance is bliss' factor a little bit. Now as an adult, I knew I was bringing to life ... part of people's childhoods, and I kind of knew what that was."

Previously, Emma turned down the opportunity to star in Disney's 'Cinderella', but accepted the role of Belle because she could see certain similarities between herself and her on-screen character.

She explained: "I didn't know they were going to make 'Beauty And The Beast' at the time I turned down 'Cinderella'.

"But when they offered me Belle, I just felt the character resonated with me so much more than Cinderella did. She remains curious, compassionate and open-minded. And that's the kind of woman I would want to embody as a role model, given the choice."