NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Emma Watson may be leaving Hermione Granger behind on the film set, but not in her heart - the actress says the two share a similar passion for learning.

Watson, whose character in the Harry Potter movies made it cool to be a studious teacher's pet, says she's "addicted to knowledge" and motivated to keep learning while doing other film projects.

Watson, who has played Hermione for more than half her life, is currently a sophomore at Brown University in Rhode Island where she is majoring in history. Unlike many of her young Potter costars, she chose to continue her education after graduating from high school.

"I love learning. I'm just addicted to knowledge. It just like, makes me happy. It keeps me motivated," she said in an interview while promoting her latest film, the first installment of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Education, she continued, is a vital part of life.

"I don't think that by doing these movies I know everything. I just feel like that's the point of being alive, to try and understand the world that's around you. And it just keeps me in touch with real life," she said.

While some stars like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton pass on college to pursue their high-profile careers, there are others like Watson, who not only make time for college but have graduated from prestigious universities.