Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has been banned from driving after being caught speeding in the UK. The 35-year-old actress was driving her blue Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30mph zone in Banbury, south-east England.
At the time of the offence, Watson was already carrying nine points on her licence. In the UK, if a driver collects 12 or more points within three years, they can face a temporary driving ban. As a result, Watson has now been disqualified and fined £1,044 (\$2,143). She did not attend the court hearing, but her lawyer confirmed that she could pay the fine, despite being a student at Oxford University.
In a separate case, actress Zoë Wanamaker, who played Madame Hooch in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was also banned from driving. The 76-year-old was caught driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone on the M4 motorway in Berkshire last August. She too received a six-month ban and was fined the same amount.
Both cases were handled by the High Wycombe magistrates’ court, and neither actress appeared in person.
Meanwhile, a new Harry Potter TV series is in the works and expected to release in 2027 on HBO Max. New actors have been cast to play the lead roles, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione, Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, and Alastair Stout as Ron. Well-known stars like John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost will join the cast as Dumbledore, Snape, and Hagrid. Filming has already begun.
