Emma Watson's recent speeding incident has resulted in a driving ban and significant fines amidst her academic pursuits.
Emma Watson Faces Six-Month Driving Ban Following Speeding Incident
Emma Watson Faces Six-Month Driving Ban Following Speeding Incident
The former Harry Potter star received penalties after exceeding the speed limit in Oxford.
Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been banned from driving for six months due to a speeding offense. The 35-year-old actress was caught driving 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford on July 31 of last year. As revealed in court, Watson already had nine points on her driving license prior to this incident, leading to her six-month ban and a total fine of £1,044 at the High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Watson, who did not attend the brief hearing, is currently continuing her studies in a master’s program for creative writing at the University of Oxford, which she started in 2023. Rising to fame after the 2001 release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone alongside actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, Watson starred in all eight Potter films, concluding her run with the series in 2011. Subsequent to the Harry Potter franchise, she appeared in popular films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Bling Ring, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Her last notable role was in the highly acclaimed 2019 adaptation of Little Women by Greta Gerwig.
Coincidentally, on the same day as Watson's sentencing, fellow Harry Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker, known for her role as Madam Hooch, was also fined for exceeding the speed limit. Wanamaker was recorded driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone on August 7, 2024, on the M4 in Berkshire. Like Watson, she faced a £1,044 fine and a six-month driving ban, with both actresses accruing three additional points on their licenses from their respective violations.
As the Harry Potter franchise continues to expand, a new TV adaptation is underway, casting new actors and expected to span a decade of production. Meanwhile, Watson has launched a sustainable gin brand with her brother this year, continuing her presence in the public eye despite her recent legal troubles.
