Actress Emma Watson has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding in the UK.
The 35-year-old “Harry Potter” star was driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone. The incident occurred on July 31, 2021, in Oxford, England. She was driving her blue Audi when she was clocked over the speed limit.
Watson did not attend the court hearing held on Wednesday at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court. During the session, she was fined £1,044 (around $1,400) and had her license suspended.
Reports indicate that Watson already had nine penalty points on her license before this offense. The court added three more points for this latest violation. Under UK law, drivers who collect 12 points face an automatic six-month driving ban.
Shortly after Watson’s case was heard, her former “Harry Potter” co-star Zoë Wanamaker appeared for a similar offense. Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in the film series, was also banned from driving for six months.
Wanamaker was caught driving at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone in Berkshire last August. She also had nine points on her license before the latest offense, triggering the same penalty.
District Judge Arvind Sharma handled both cases. He confirmed the additional penalty points and applied the automatic bans.
The coincidence of two “Harry Potter” actresses receiving driving bans on the same day drew media attention. Both had starred in the early films of the famous franchise but have since followed different paths.
Emma Watson gained global fame for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in all eight “Harry Potter” films. Since then, she has acted in films such as Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. She is also recognized for her contributions to women’s rights and her involvement in academic and creative endeavors.
So far, Watson has not publicly commented on the court ruling. A representative for Zoë Wanamaker also declined to comment on the matter.
Both actresses are now facing a six-month suspension from the road as part of their penalties.
