Credit: Video Screenshot, 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone', Warner Bros.In 2001, Warner Bros. released Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which started one of the most successful franchises in film history. The film starred three unknown child actors — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The film shot them to superstardom, and they have all managed to maintain a fair level of success in the two decades since. But it wasn’t just the three main actors who gained a fair amount of notoriety — being recognized in public and seeing their careers become even more successful than before.
A lot of people think that celebrities get special treatment and are not held to the same standards as everyone else. And you might think that starring in something as iconic as the Harry Potter franchise would get an actor even more special treatment. However, a recent court case shows just how untrue that belief is.
Related: HBO Reveals First Look at New ‘Harry Potter’!
On July 16, lawyers for actress Zoe Wanamaker arrived in a UK courtroom after the actress was pulled over for speeding. The actress played Flying Instructor and Quidditch referee Madam Hooch in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). Unfortunately, she did not return for the subsequent films and accused Warner Bros. of underpaying its actors.
According to court documents, Wanamaker had been pulled over for driving 46 miles per hour in a 40mph zone. It was not the first time she had been pulled over. The Britannia actress had actually been pulled over multiple times for speeding between June and July 2024. This had caused Ms. Wanamaker to accrue multiple points on her license.
Related: Report: ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot Will Not Cast New Lord Voldemort
Per a report from The Daily Mail:
District Judge Arvind Sharma, passing sentence, said: ‘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.’
Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Star Tragically Reveals She “Doesn’t Have Long to Live”
What makes this case interesting is that Wanamaker was not the only Harry Potter star in court that day for diving offenses.
Just moments before Wanamaker’s lawyers pled guilty on her behalf, lawyers for Emma Watson were there, representing the actress for committing the same offenses as Ms. Wanamaker.
Emma Watson had also been pulled over for speeding, and it was not the first time she had been confronted by police over breaking traffic laws. Like Ms. Wanamaker, Watson had her license suspended for six months.
Do you think it is refreshing to see famous actors being held responsible for ignoring traffic laws? Do you think Ms. Wanamaker and Ms. Watson deserved to have their licenses suspended? How do you feel about the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!