Emma Watson, star of the ‘Harry Potter’ series, has found herself making headlines for a driving ban. The 35-year-old actress has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding in Oxford last year.
According to multiple reports, Watson was clocked at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone while driving her Audi in July 2024. This might have been a minor infraction for most, but for Watson, it tipped the scale.
She had already racked up over nine penalty points on her license from previous traffic offences.
Under UK driving laws, reaching that threshold can trigger an automatic driving ban, which is exactly what happened in this case.
The verdict came during a brief session at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 16. Watson did not appear in person for the five-minute hearing, as she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford.
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Her representatives handled the matter on her behalf. Along with the ban, the court also fined her £1,044, roughly $1,400 or Rs 1.20 lakh.
Interestingly, Watson wasn’t the only ‘Harry Potter’ alum in the courtroom that day. Zoë Wanamaker, known for playing Madam Hooch in the film series, also faced a similar penalty.
Wanamaker was speeding at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone last August. The court handed her the same fine and a six-month driving disqualification.
Watson, who rose to fame as Hermione Granger, has mostly stayed away from Hollywood in recent years. After starring in major films like ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’, ‘The Bling Ring’, ‘Noah’, Disney’s live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ in 2019, she decided to take a step back from acting.
Her last major public appearances were earlier this year; first at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February and later at the Cannes Film Festival in May.