Actress Emma Watson talks about starring role in 'Beauty and the Beast'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- She's the star of the new 'Beauty and the Beast', Disney's live action version of its much-loved classic.

We caught up with actress Emma Watson at the New York premiere of her new movie.

It's fair to say Emma Watson has the luxury of choice: Faced with two great roles, the actress chose the part that had inspired as a child growing up in England, long before fame came.

Emma has long dreamt of this moment, having wanted to play Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast' since the age of 6.

"I watched the movie until my parents couldn't take it anymore," she said.

Emma Watson was so determined to fulfill her childhood dream, she turned down the part in 'La La Land' that earned Emma Stone an Oscar.

"It was kind of a decision like I knew I really needed to really fully commit to make this movie what it needed to be," said Watson. "I love this story, and I'd been committed to it for a very long time, and I knew I had to do right by it."

Sandy Kenyon: "Was there a moment when you're getting ready to do it and you thought, 'boy I have a big responsibility to myself here?"

Emma Watson: "Yeah, for sure. I think that's always: it's a great situation to be in that you're really doing this for yourself as much as you're doing this for the audience - but it's also scary because as you say it's a lot of responsibility."

Sandy Kenyon: "Were you worried about the singing? "

Emma Watson: "I was. I was very worried about the singing, actually. "I had never done it before obviously and on top of that this is one of the (sort of) most beloved musicals of all time."

The original is so beloved, the question becomes why re-make something perfect?

The chairman and C.E.O. of Disney, Bob Iger, answers that question this way.

"This is something that can be re-told in a slightly different way, a slightly more modern way, and give the fans more of a story that they already loved," he said.

New stars, new technology and new songs..they all amp up the anticipation for this movie that opens everywhere Friday. It's expected to gross $200 million around the world this weekend.

I will have my review for you Friday. 'Beauty and the Beast' is from Disney, owned by the same parent company as ABC 7.