(In the UK) "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson banned from driving for speeding

 

"Harry Potter" star Emma Watson banned from driving for speeding

Actress Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding. The incident occurred on 31 July 2023 in Oxford, where Watson was recorded driving 38mph in a 30mph zone. The court heard that she already had nine points on her license, and this latest offense resulted in an additional three points, automatically triggering a disqualification under UK traffic law.

Watson, 35, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, did not attend the five-minute court hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court. She was ordered to pay a total of £1,044, which includes a fine, court fees, and victim surcharge.

Watson gained international recognition starting in 2001 with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She appeared in all eight films in the series before moving on to other roles in films like Beauty and the Beast, The Bling Ring, and Little Women (2019). In 2023, she ventured into business, launching a sustainable gin brand with her brother.

Despite the current legal issue, Watson remains out of the acting spotlight, focusing on her academic and entrepreneurial pursuits.

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On the same day and in the same courtroom, another Harry Potter actress, Zoe Wanamaker, also received a six-month driving ban for a separate speeding offense. Wanamaker, known for portraying Madam Hooch in the film series, was caught speeding on 7 August 2024 on the M4 in Newbury, Berkshire. She was driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone.

The 76-year-old actress, like Watson, had already accumulated nine points on her driving license prior to the incident. With the addition of three more points from the recent offense, her total reached the threshold for a six-month disqualification.

Represented by lawyer Duncan Jones, Wanamaker did not contest the charges and accepted both the ban and the fine of £1,044. Her lawyer clarified that she was not requesting any special treatment due to her celebrity status. District Judge Arvind Sharma presided over both cases and applied the same penalties consistently.

Wanamaker’s career spans decades and includes a diverse array of stage and screen performances. She is widely respected in the British acting community, with notable roles beyond Harry Potter.

Both driving bans underline that UK traffic laws apply uniformly, regardless of status or profession. It also highlights how quickly a license can be lost once a driver is close to the penalty point limit.