Actress and prominent feminist Emma Watson is named in a recently-established database containing information on entities involved in the Panama Papers leak.
Britain’s Spectator first reported that Watson was discovered in a database set up by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on Monday night. The database contains documents connected to more than 200,000 offshore accounts, providing a clearer picture of how wealthy individuals have skirted taxes by using offshore firms.
According to the database, Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is the beneficiary of an offshore entity called Falling Leaves Ltd registered in the British Virgin Islands.
A spokesperson for Watson confirmed to multiple outlets that the actress did set up an offshore company. However, the representative insisted that Watson set up the entity in order to protect "her anonymity and safety."
"Emma (like many high profile individuals) set up an offshore company for the sole purpose of protecting her anonymity and safety. UK companies are required to publicly publish details of their shareholders and therefore do not give her the necessary anonymity required to protect her personal safety, which has been jeopardised in the past owing to such information being publicly available," the spokesperson said.
"Offshore companies do not publish these shareholder details. Emma receives absolutely no tax or monetary advantages from this offshore company whatsoever--only privacy."
The revelations about Watson are among several high-profile findings precipitated by the leak of confidential documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca.
Aside from her prominent role in Harry Potter film series, Watson has also taken an interest in politics and particularly feminism. The actress recently attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C.