The 17-year-old beat actress Keira Knightley into second place in the survey by Top of the Pops magazine, while Lily Allen and Charlotte Church came third and fourth respectively.

The actress is best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, and she stars alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in the fifth film, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, which has its world premiere in Tokyo on June 28.

The young star, who plans to study philosophy atCambridge University, recently graced the cover of Tatler magazine.

"There is no rule book for the career I am in," she told the magazine. "None of my family has ever experienced it. No one tells you how to handle fame or walk down the red carpet or answer questions about yourself. I just hope I get it right."

Peter Hart, Editor of Top Of The Pops magazine said: "Posh and Katie might reckon they rule the roost, but our readers realise a good ambassador for >Britain needs brains and beauty, not just bags of cash.

"In Emma Watson and Keira Knightley they see fantastic role models - they’re celebrities who teenage girls really want to be."

Emma can’t wait for uni - June 27 2007
Emma Watson has revealed that she’s tried not to let the fame of Harry Potter affect her too much.

The 17-year-old, who is currently taking AS-levels, hopes to win a place at Cambridge University to read philosophy, fitting filming of the final two Harry Potter films around her studies.

She said: "I’ve tried to live exactly the same life that I did before I got the role. I think it’s really kept me sane and it would be so easy to just, given how busy I am doing this, to lose touch with people and the friends that I had before I took the role."

And the actress revealed she can’t wait to turn 18.

"I’m learning to drive at the moment. Just to get in a car and go anywhere I want - just the freedom of that. I can’t wait to go to uni and go travelling and live on my own and be able to do my own washing."

But she added: "There’ll be cooking disasters, I’m sure."

Emma: I live a normal life - June 7 2007
Harry Potter’s Emma Watson may be one of the most recognised child stars, but it seems she has her feet firmly on the ground.

The 17-year-old, who plays Harry’s clever pal Hermione in the hit films, says she has no problem coping with fame, reports the Daily Express.

"Fame happened when I was so young but I don’t find it difficult to have a nice ordinary life," she said.

Emma swears you won’t catch her trying to hide from the paparazzi.

"People who try to hide from fame can make it go completely the wrong way. All those huge designer shades make them look like bugs!

"And walking around with bodyguards draws more attention to you. I think the best way is to try and live as normal as possible," she added.

But although Emma is content to take the bus around her home town of Oxford, she admits to having more expensive culinary tastes.

"I love Spanish and French food. I like the antipasto massimo in Carluccio’s too," she said.

Potter stars sign up for last flims - Mar 26 2007
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will return as teenage wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the final Harry Potter films, Warner Bros Pictures has announced.