‘Harry Potter’ Star Emma Watson Banned From Driving After Speeding Violation

“Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson has been banned from driving in the United Kingdom for six months after being caught speeding.

The 35-year-old celeb, who played Hermione Granger in the popular film franchise, was clocked doing 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in July of last year. Watson already had nine points on her license at the time of the incident, meaning she had previously committed driving offenses, each of which added points to her record.

According to the BBC, the actress did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer made the statement, “She is in a position to pay the fine,” which was just under $1,400.

Watson has been living in Oxford, England, while pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing at the university there. The actress shot to fame in 2001, at the age of 11, following the release of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

She appeared in all eight films over the next decade. 

Coincidentally, another Harry Potter actress, Zoë Wanamaker, was in court on speeding charges on the same day as Watson. 

The actress, 76, was caught driving 46 mph in a 40 mph zone and was also charged a fine of almost $1,400 and banned from driving for six months.

In 2023, Watson discussed stepping back from her Hollywood acting career.

“I’m just so glad that I did,” Watson told British Vogue of taking a break. “Because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before — more autonomy.”

“I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next], because the knowing that I’ve come to, I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” she added.

“I get a front row seat [with] some of the most successful, beautiful, incredible people in the world,” Watson said of being part of Hollywood. “And when you have that seat it becomes very, very clear that there is just absolutely no level of success that will make you in any way happy or content if you do not like who you are or enjoy what you’re doing when no one’s watching.”