- Star Emma Watson Banned From Driving in UK
- Watson did not attend the brief hearing
- She was clocked driving her blue Audi at 38mph in a 30mph zone
By Grateful Ogunjebe
Emma Watson, British actress known globally for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding in the United Kingdom.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the 35-year-old was clocked driving her blue Audi at 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford on 31 July 2024, according to court documents.
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The case was heard at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where she was fined £1,044 and disqualified from driving.
Watson, who did not attend the brief hearing, already had nine penalty points on her driving record. With three further points added for this offence, her total reached 12, triggering an automatic ban under UK traffic laws.
Shortly after her case was concluded, the court also ruled on a separate incident involving Zoë Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in the first Harry Potter film.
The veteran stage and screen actress was caught driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone in Berkshire in August 2024.
District Judge Arvind Sharma handed Wanamaker the same sentence: a £1,044 fine and a six-month ban, with three additional penalty points pushing her past the legal limit of 12.
Both Watson and Wanamaker have remained silent since the ruling. While Wanamaker’s representative declined to comment, CNN reported it had reached out to Watson’s team for a response.
The unexpected parallel rulings have drawn public interest, as the two actresses once united on screen at Hogwarts now find themselves banned from the road at the same time.
Emma Watson has built an influential career since her early fame. Beyond film, she has made headlines for her work in women’s rights advocacy, academia, and as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
Her recent screen credits include Beauty and the Beast and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women.
