Harry Potter's Bel Powley hits out at JK Rowling's controversial gender views

Niti Majethia Mon, August 10, 2026 at 6:42 PM UTC

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Bel Powley is set to play Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter's aunt, in the highly anticipated series (Image: Dave Benett, Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Actress Bel Powley has signed on to star in the upcoming television adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise, while making no secret of her opposition to JK Rowling's stance on gender issues.

Powley, 34, who first gained widespread recognition as the lead in the 2015 indie film Diary of a Teenage Girl, is set to portray Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter's aunt, in the highly anticipated series. The actress took to social media to publicly distance herself from Rowling's anti-transgender views, stating that she "strongly disagrees" with the author's position.

JK Rowling, who penned the original Harry Potter book series also serves as an executive producer on the new HBO adaptation, which boasts a cast that includes Janet McTeer, Paapa Esseidu, and Nick Frost. Similarly, actor John Lithgow revealed he nearly quit due to JK Rowling's views.

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During an interview with The Telegraph, Powley was asked whether she harbored any concerns about the potential impact on her career from being associated with Rowling and her views.

"I strongly disagree with JK Rowling's views on gender," she responded. "I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance."

Daniel Radcliffe played the titular role in Harry Potter (Image: WARNER BROS)

"But I love Harry Potter," she continued. "I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness."

The controversy initially erupted in 2020, when the Harry Potter author posted on X, "People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate."

"The idea that women like me, who've been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they're vulnerable in the same way as women-i.e., to male violence-'hate' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences-is a nonsense."

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JK Rowling has been met with online criticism over her trans views (Image: Getty)

In another comment, she continued, "I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so."

Following the bestselling author's original remarks, fan backlash has been significant in subsequent years, with numerous Harry Potter enthusiasts shocked that their beloved author would express such views.

Among the most prominent celebrity reactions was from actor Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in the movie franchise.

In a statement through The Trevor Project, he responded to the comments, stating, "I realize that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as infighting between J.K. Rowling and me, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what's important right now.

"While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.

"Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations, who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”