J.K. Rowling Slams 'Racist' Critics of Casting Black Actress as Hermione in Harry Potter Play
Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger (Photo: Charlie Gray)
The Harry Potter saga resumes in late July, when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — a new stage production set almost two decades after the series’ final novel — opens at the Palace Theatre in London. It’s the event of the year on the West End, and one that’s drawn some criticism for casting a black actress as Harry’s lifelong best friend Hermione Granger — a view that Potter author J.K. Rowling’ has roundly rebuffed in a new interview with The Guardian.
Related: New Photos of the ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Cast
The character’s creator expressed her full support for the casting of Olivier-award-winning actress Noma Dumezweni — who’ll embody Hermione as an adult — while slamming those who object to her in the role:
“I had a bunch of racists telling me that because Hermione ‘turned white’ — that is, lost colour from her face after a shock — that she must be a white woman, which I have a great deal of difficulty with. But I decided not to get too agitated about it and simply state quite firmly that Hermione can be a black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm.”
Rowling says that Hermione’s race was never explicitly delineated in her novels, and that while she expected at least some blowback to Dumezweni’s casting — which she “loves” — she told The Guardian the more vitriolic online response has been dispiriting:
“With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot. But what can you say? That’s the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job.”
Related: Draco and His Son, Scorpius, in New ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Cast Photos
Other than the fact that the plot will concern Harry’s youngest son Albus, little is known about the production, which will be staged in two parts, and which will be released in book form in the U.S. on July 31.
Click over to The Guardian for the entire Rowling interview.
Watch J.K. Rowling discuss her favorite films with Daniel Radcliffe in a clip from the ‘Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection’ on Blu-ray:
