Emma Watson taking legal action over photo hack - report

Emma Watson is reportedly taking legal action against hackers who have stolen personal photographs of her.

Pictures from a fitting with a stylist were reportedly hacked from the Harry Potter star's personal computer and posted online, prompting the 26-year-old's representative to assure fans none of the pictures feature a naked Emma, despite reports to the contrary.

"Photos from a clothes fitting Emma had with a stylist a couple of years ago have been stolen," the spokesperson says. "They are not nude photographs. Lawyers have been instructed and we are not commenting further."

This isn't the first time Emma has had to deal with controversy surrounding her personal photos - in 2014, hackers threatened to leak nude photos of the actress following her United Nations speech on gender equality. The stunt turned out to be a hoax.

"I knew it was a hoax, I knew the pictures didn't exist...," she said at the time. "The minute I stood up talking about women's rights I was immediately threatened... My brother was particularly upset."

Emma also hit headlines and was criticized by fans earlier this month (Mar17), when she chose to show off some skin in a crochet top by Burberry, just about covering her nipples, as part of a photoshoot for Vanity Fair. Critics took aim at her, claiming stripping off undermined the fight for gender equality.

She defended herself against the social media uproar, telling BBC.com, "Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It's about freedom, it's about liberation. It's about equality."