Emma Watson says she still treasures J.K. Rowling despite differing views on trans rights

Emma Watson, the actor who rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that she still treasures J.K. Rowling despite their differing views on transgender rights. The 35-year-old said she supports trans rights while acknowledging that her relationship with Rowling has been affected by public disagreements over gender policy.

Watson described a cooled relationship between Rowling and some cast members. The author has publicly suggested she could not forgive Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, or other celebrities who backed the movement. The remarks come as the UK weighs gender-identity policy, including debates sparked by the Cass report on gender treatment and puberty blockers. Watson emphasized that it is possible to hold love for a person while disagreeing with them, and said viewpoints should not be treated as mutually exclusive.

Watson also told Shetty that she hopes people who disagree with her views will still love her, and that she can continue to love others who hold different opinions. She described feeling broken by Hollywood and said the experience on the Harry Potter set felt different from other work environments. She recalled entering the film series expecting a lifelong sense of family, a dynamic she said did not always translate to her subsequent workplaces.

On the personal side, Watson discussed how fame has affected everyday life. In July she received a six-month driving ban after speeding at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone near Oxford. The penalty followed a period in which she had accumulated points while studying at Oxford University in 2023 and began driving herself to classes and shoots. Since the ban, she has taken up cycling and described the period as humbling, noting that she could no longer rely on others to drive her to commitments.

Watson has not acted in a film since December 2018, when she completed Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. She rose to prominence at age 10 in the Potter films and has since spoken about balancing a demanding career with personal growth. On the podcast, she reflected on moving from the structured Potter-era life to more independent living, describing the transition as a learning experience.

The broader context of her comments includes Rowling’s ongoing public statements about gender policy. The Cass report on gender treatment in the UK has renewed attention to debates about puberty blockers and access to gender-affirming care, with Rowling and other critics voicing concerns about safeguarding and single-sex spaces. Watson’s support for trans rights places her at odds with some of Rowling’s positions, illustrating an ongoing tension within the Potter circle on social issues.

Despite the tensions, Watson framed the interview as a reminder to maintain empathy. She expressed a wish that people who disagree with her opinions will continue to show respect, and that she can still love those with different views. The discussion contributes to a broader conversation about how major stars navigate public debates on gender, identity and rights while managing personal and professional relationships.