British 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 in Oxford, England.
Watson, 35, was recorded driving her blue Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone on the evening of July 31, 2024. She did not attend the brief hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, where the court issued the sentence.
In addition to the driving ban, Watson was fined £1,044 (approximately $1,400) and had three penalty points added to her license. Under UK traffic laws, drivers who accumulate 12 points within a three-year period face an automatic disqualification. Watson already had nine points on her license prior to this incident.
Parallel Case for ‘Harry Potter’ Co-Star
In a related case, Zoë Wanamaker, who portrayed Madam Hooch in the first Harry Potter film, also received a six-month driving ban on the same day. Wanamaker, a celebrated British stage actress, was caught speeding at 46 mph in a 40-mph zone in Berkshire in August 2024.
Like Watson, Wanamaker had nine points on her license before the offense, and the additional three points triggered an automatic suspension.
A Curious Coincidence
The parallel rulings have drawn attention due to the actresses’ shared history in the Harry Potter franchise. Both now face the same penalty, decades after their characters crossed paths on screen at Hogwarts.
Emma Watson has since built a career beyond acting, with work in women’s rights advocacy, academia, and major films such as Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. Her representatives have not commented on the incident.
