Los Angeles, June 27 (IANS): Actress Emma Watson says she never really realised her popularity and stardom until she went to study in the US.

The actress, who became famous after she portrayed young witch Hermione Granger in the hugely successful "Harry Potter" franchise, enrolled at the Brown University in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, in 2009 to study English literature.

"It sounds stupid, or completely unbelievable, but that was when I really realised that I was famous," the 23-year-old told Teen Vogue, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She feels she was unaware of her fame because she lived in a bubble when she was shooting the wizard franchise with actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

"I think, in a way, I was very protected during 'Harry Potter' because I was working all the time. I would get in the car, go to the studio, and go home," she said.

"There are still days when I deal with (fame) horribly and there are days when I deal with it really well," added Watson.