UK Court Bans Harry Potter Star Emma Watson from Driving for Six Months Over Speeding

British actress Emma Watson has been banned from driving in the UK for six months following a speeding violation that pushed her over the legal penalty point limit.

The 35-year-old star, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, was caught driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford on July 31, 2024. At the time of the offence, Watson already had nine penalty points on her driving licence.

During a brief five-minute hearing held on Wednesday at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, the court added three more points to her licence, bringing the total to 12 and triggering an automatic driving ban. In addition, Watson was fined £1,044.

Her lawyer, Mark Haslam, represented her in court and confirmed that Watson, who is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, is able and willing to pay the fine. The actress did not attend the hearing in person.

Watson rose to international fame in 2001 after debuting as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and she has remained a prominent figure in film and activism ever since.