In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Logan Lerman takes on the main role as Charlie, an introverted high school freshman who finds solace in a different group of friends after struggling with personal issues and a painful past. Lerman sat down to chat with BuzzSugar and spilled on a few things, from his thoughts on playing such a nontraditional protagonist to working with his lovely costar, Emma Watson. Read on to find the interview:

Stephen Chbosky, the director, said he knew he had found his Charlie when he met you. What made you understand the character so well? Logan Lerman: I guess I was very similar to Charlie in many ways, growing up, and I just really responded to the material. Yeah, it was just an instant understanding, and I just knew I had to play the part.

In what ways did you feel similar to Charlie? LL: I guess with his awkwardness and trying to figure things out in that time period and how to socialize and fit in. I guess I wasn't as naive as him, but I definitely had the morals that he had, so it kind of . . . I don't know. I really can't explain it very well . . . I’m just very similar to him, I guess. A lot of situations in the script have actually happened to me in real life, so I just connected with it.

What is it like working with Emma Watson? LL: She's great. She's really a great person and easy to work with and a fantastic actress. [I am] a big fan of Harry Potter. Yeah, it's really exciting to see her outside of the series and what she's able to do. She's not only pulling it off, but she's blowing people away with her performance.

How does the movie differ from the book? LL: It's different. They definitely had to trim out some of the details and then make it a little bit neater for the movie, I mean, just to fit it into a film. But, you know, Steve Chbosky — who wrote the novel, wrote the script — was directing it, so it’s very true to the book, and I think the fans of the book are going to be really happy with what Steve has created.

To read the rest of the interview, head here.

With the movie premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival this week on September 8, those in the US can currently expect its release in theaters on September 21.

Are you guys excited about the movie?