Her list of ex-boyfriends includes Silicon Valley millionaires and the son of high street guru Sir Philip Green.

But Harry Potter star Emma Watson may now have cast her spell over a Syrian refugee filmmaker, who was seen putting a smile on her face this week.

The actress, 33, cosied up to Hassan Akkad – an English teacher in Damascus turned writer and human rights activist – at a lunch in Mayfair.

Ms Watson and Mr Akkad, who arrived in the UK by dinghy in 2015 following an 87-day journey across Europe, enjoyed a date at expensive Italian restaurant Cecconi’s, where starters cost up to £23.

One onlooker said: ‘They seemed very cosy.’

HAPPY TOGETHER Emma Watson appears to grown close to Syrian filmmaker Hassan Akkad

Harry Potter star Emma Watson may now have cast her spell over a Syrian refugee filmmaker, who was seen putting a smile on her face this week

Mr Akkad was seen putting a smile on Ms Watson’s face at lunch this week in Mayfair, London

Mr Akkad, 35, had written at length in his memoir Hope Not Fear, which Ms Watson heavily plugged on her Instagram UN book club in 2021, about his experience of meeting the actress and model

Ms Watson was seen embracing him during their lunch date

The pair enjoyed a date at expensive Italian restaurant Cecconi’s where starters cost up to £23

Mr Akkad was later seen carrying her water bottle as they left the restaurant

Ms Watson’s bamboo water bottle features her initials ECW

The pair were then seen getting into Mr Akkad’s Skoda SUV

They have enjoyed a close friendship since 2017, but Mr Akkad told the Mail yesterday that Ms Watson was ‘out of my league’

However, Mr Akkad told the Mail yesterday: ‘She’s out of my league.’