Another ‘Harry Potter’ Star Faces Legal Trouble with Driving Ban
Over the years, fans of the Harry Potter franchise have become accustomed to seeing their favorite stars on the big screen. Some of these actors—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—have become household names, maintaining successful careers after the saga ended.
But beyond the cameras and movie sets, their lives are often far more relatable than fans realize. Like any regular individual, celebrities also face the consequences of their actions.
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Recently, one Harry Potter actress found herself in the headlines for an unexpected reason: a legal matter. Zoe Wanamaker, who portrayed Madam Hooch in the first Harry Potter film, was banned from driving after a court conviction related to her driving record.
While many would expect public figures to be above the law, Wanamaker’s case proves that no one, regardless of their fame, is exempt from facing consequences when they break the law.
On July 16, Zoe Wanamaker stood before a UK courtroom following a speeding offense that would ultimately cost her the ability to drive for six months.
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The actress, known for her role as the Flying Instructor and Quidditch referee in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, has had her fair share of run-ins with traffic laws. Between June 2023 and July 2024, Wanamaker had been pulled over several times for speeding, which led to the accumulation of points on her driving record.
The court session on July 16 was not the actress’s first encounter with the law for similar offenses. She had previously been stopped by authorities for speeding, adding to the growing list of incidents.
This time, it resulted in her driving license being suspended for a period of six months.
According to The Daily Mail, District Judge Arvind Sharma passed down the sentence.
‘Her licence will be endorsed with three points, a Band A fine, which would have been £1,000, reduced to £660 for her guilty plea at the first opportunity.
‘She will pay a £264 surcharge and £120 costs, to be paid in full within 28 days.
‘The 12 points (means) she is disqualified for six months from now.’
Duncan Jones, defending Wanamaker said: ‘She is not seeking any special treatment and accepts that she will be disqualified from driving.’
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While the details surrounding her case are fairly straightforward, what caught many off guard was the fact that Wanamaker wasn’t the only Harry Potter star in court that day for similar issues. As the actress’ legal team worked to settle her case, another famous Harry Potter alum found themselves in a similar predicament.
Just moments before, Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger in the iconic franchise, also faced legal repercussions for driving offenses. Like Wanamaker, Watson’s license was also suspended after she was caught speeding.
Neither Wanamaker nor Watson received special treatment, proving that celebrities are not above the law, regardless of their status.
The question that now lingers is: do fans find it refreshing to see famous figures being held accountable for their actions? Do you think Wanamaker and Watson were rightfully penalized for breaking the law, or was their punishment too harsh?
We want to hear from you! Do you think justice was served, or do you believe the punishment doesn’t match the crime? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and join the conversation!
