Watson Plays Down Star Status In Freshman Week

The Harry Potter star has turned her back on the acting world so she can study for her degree, and has started her three-year course at New York's prestigious Columbia University and Brown University in Rhode Island.

Watson - who is a muse for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and is currently the face of Burberry - insisted recently she wanted to be treated as "Emma Watson, the student from the U.K." rather than "Emma Watson, who starred in those Harry Potter films".

And it seems her wishes are coming true - she has been snapped giggling and wearing student attire in a bid to fit in with her new friends.

The star was seen sitting on her new classmate's backs and playing a range of games to get to know her college roommates better as they embark on their freshman year.

Watson will shoot her scenes for the remaining two Potter movies during breaks from university, where she is studying English.