‘Harry Potter’ stars Emma Watson and Zoë Wanamaker face temporary bans after separate 2024 incidents
🚗 Speeding Offence Lands Emma Watson Driving Ban
Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has been temporarily banned from driving following a 2024 speeding incident.
According to People magazine, Watson was caught driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford, England. On Wednesday, she was handed a six-month driving suspension, nearly a year after the offence.
🧹 Madam Hooch Actress Zoë Wanamaker Also Banned
In a surprising coincidence, Zoë Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was also banned from driving on the same day.
Wanamaker, 76, was caught speeding at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone on the M4 near Newbury on August 7, 2024. She received a £1,044 fine and a six-month ban. Both verdicts were issued in the same court.
⚖️ Judge Rejects Leniency
While Wanamaker’s lawyer argued she was respectful of traffic laws and not acting “starry,” District Judge Arvind Sharma disagreed and upheld the disqualification in both cases.
🎓 Watson’s Life Beyond Acting
Emma Watson has gradually stepped back from the limelight in recent years. In September 2024, she enrolled in a master’s program in Creative Writing at Oxford University, building on her earlier degree in English Literature from Brown University (2014).
In a 2023 British Vogue interview, she shared how her break from acting helped her reconnect with her voice and creative freedom, saying:
“I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty… more autonomy.”
🌟 Rare Public Appearances & New Pursuits
Despite her quieter public presence, Watson made appearances at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February and the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025.
She also made her directorial debut in 2022 with the Prada Paradoxe fragrance campaign, showcasing her expanding creative pursuits beyond acting.
