Ever since the original Beauty and the Beast film debuted in 1991, people have been questioning if Belle only falls in love with Beast because she's forced to. Some think it's Stockholm syndrome, feelings of trust or affection felt by a victim toward a captor in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Emma Watson, who plays Belle in the revamp, says that's not the case.
“It’s such a good question and it’s something I really grappled with at the beginning; the kind of Stockholm Syndrome question about this story,” she says. “So, I did some reading about Stockholm Syndrome…It’s where a prisoner will take on the characteristics of and fall in love with, in this really strange way, the captor. Belle actively argues and disagrees with [Beast] constantly. She has none of the characteristics of someone with Stockholm Syndrome because she keeps her independence, she keeps her independence of mind. And I think there’s a very intentional switch where, in my mind, Belle decides to stay."
Watson makes a good point. Belle resists until she starts to form a friendship with Beast, which then turns into a romantic relationship.
“They are having no illusions about who the other one is," she adds. "They have seen the worst of one another, and they also bring out the best.”
We can't wait to see their relationship unfold when the movie hits theaters March 17!