"I feel like an imposter": Emma Watson describes a feeling many women know all too well.

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Her Harry Potter character was considered “the brightest witch of her age”, but in reality Emma Watson sees herself as a bit of a fraud.

In the latest issue of Vogue UK, the 25-year-old actress, UN Goodwill Ambassador for Women and Brown University graduate admits she doesn’t really know how to respond to praise for her acting work — and that she doesn’t remember if the skill came naturally to her.

“It’s something I’ve really wrestled with. I’ve gone back and I’ve quizzed my parents. When I was younger, I just did it. I just acted. It was just there,” Watson, who was catapulted to fame in her role as Hermione Granger, says.

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“So now when I receive recognition for my acting, I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I tend to turn in on myself. I feel like an imposter.”

Does this sound familiar to you? It seems the Perks of Being a Wallflower star has experienced a classic case of ‘Imposter Syndrome’, a psychological condition. “It usually stems from a person experiences feelings that they don’t deserve what they’ve achieved, and then they start worrying about the fact that they’re going to be exposed as a ‘fraud’,” explains Sydney psychologist Maria Faustino. (Post continues after gallery.)

Watson has described this ‘fear of being caught out’ in a previous interview. “I’m just going, ‘Any moment, someone’s going to find out I’m a total fraud. I can’t possibly live up to what everyone thinks I am’,” she told Rookie Mag in 2013.

Faustino says Imposter Syndrome was once thought to only affect professional women, but it’s been observed across a variety of cultures and demographics and in both men and women.

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However, it appears to be particularly common among high achievers, and one look at the other famous faces who have admitted to ‘imposter-like’ feelings suggests this is indeed the case.

Earlier this year, Oscar winner and former Harvard student Natalie Portman spoke of her days at the prestigious Harvard University, where she believed her peers assumed she’d only gained entry because she was famous.

“I feared people would assume [I was] not worthy of the intellectual rigour here ... [I felt] I wasn’t smart enough to be in this company, that every time I opened my mouth, I would have to prove that I wasn’t just a dumb actress," she admitted.

Emmy Award-winning comedian Tina Fey also knows what it's like: "The beauty of the impostor syndrome is you vacillate between extreme egomania and a complete feeling of: 'I'm a fraud! Oh God, they're on to me! I'm a fraud!'"

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Even Meryl Streep, the multiple-award winner, living legend and subject of much worship, has a touch of Imposter Syndrome. "You think, 'Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don't know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?" she said in an interview.

Faustino says there are a few speculated causes of Imposter Syndrome. One is the high pressure to achieve, because this can cause an individual to feel confusion about seeking approval and putting "a lot of eggs in one basket".

"If they have a certain goal they want to achieve, they'll feel that all their self-worth and self-love is in that basket and if they don't achieve it, then they're not worth anything," Faustino explains.

Undertaking a new endeavour or role can also spark a dip in confidence, leading someone to feel worried that they're a fraud.

"There's actually a cycle called the Imposter Cycle. There's a lot of anxiety and self-doubt about in performing, so when they're about to perform a particular task or meet a certain goal, they might either over-prepare or procrastinate. Then, when they do achieve it they feel relieved, but at the same time they keep discounting positive feedback," Faustino says. (Post continues after gallery.)

This is why someone with Imposter Syndrome might dismiss praise or compliments, saying their successes come down to luck, good timing, or the assistance of someone else. While this might seem like the case to you, the people around you can probably see the all hard work and personal strength you've channeled into your achievements.

The good news is, Faustino says these feelings can be overcome.

"It's really important to recognise when you've succeeded. People are quite prone to being self-critical, so when we embark on a new venture sometimes we tend to focus on what we could have done better instead of thinking, 'Wow, I've really accomplished this'. You need to objectively weigh your achievements," she explains.

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"It's important as well to realise nobody's perfect ... so when people focus on perfection and they don't achieve that ideal, that unrealistic expectation of being perfect all the time, then they start to think they're fradulent."

Faustino also recommends talking to a mentor or a close loved one who can give you objective feedback about how you're tracking, which will help you recognise your achievements and work towards future successes.

"It's not so much changing the way we think, but reframing of sorts. For example, if you've thought of spending 10 hours on a work project, then you've only spent seven, you might beat yourself up ... but really, the way to spin a positive side of it is [thinking] 'Wow, I've spent seven hours on this project, and I've only got three to go'."

If you're really struggling with Imposter Syndrome, consider speaking to a psychologist — especially one who specialises in cognitive behavioral therapy — as Faustino says they can help you challenge and shift unrealistic thinking.

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Emma Watson might feel like a fraud, but we think her impressive advocacy work, successful career and legions of admiring fans tell another story altogether.

Have you ever suffered from impostor syndrome?