UPDATE: J.K. Rowling, Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch support casting of Hermione in ‘Cursed Child’

Dec 21, 2015

Posted by: Emma Pocock

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, News

J.K. Rowling herself has spoken about the casting announcements made yesterday. Noma Dumezweni – a woman of colour – will be playing Hermione Granger!

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For the most part, the Potter fandom have been the loyal, welcoming and imaginative people they always have been. Some merely argue that this actress wasn’t their personal view of Hermione – and, of course, fictional characters manifest themselves differently to each and every person. However, the negative responses to this casting decision have prompted Rowling herself to give Dumezweni the ‘canon’ stamp of approval – which we trust wholeheartedly, of course!

There have been arguments surrounding official artwork portraying Hermione as white, and of Emma Watson being ‘the real deal’, but Rowling – in a pinned tweet, no less! – says canon Hermione is ‘brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever’. Now, the book might be in the readers’ hands, but Rowling herself has spoken, and the vagueness of this description suggests that we are free to imagine characters as we wish, not least because this is a continuation of the books, not merely of the films.

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Matthew Lewis also gave his support to Dumezweni after tweets asking for his thoughts, saying that Neville in canon is actually blonde!

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Evanna Lynch also chipped in, after a tweet from our own webmistress Melissa Anneli supported Dumezweni’s casting. Representation here is exciting, and shows a decision made based on talent, not just appearance. As Evanna says, it’s peoples hearts (and personalities) that count, not just their looks!

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Pottermore have also given their response to the casting, giving more details on the actress:

“Olivier Award-winning actress Noma Dumezweni joins the cast as Hermione. She has received recent rave reviews for her performance in Penelope Skinner’s hit play Linda at the Royal Court.

Noma starred in both The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and won an Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role as Ruth Younger in A Raisin In The Sun. Doctor Who fans will also recognise Noma as UNIT Captain Erisa Magambo. She will make her directing debut at the Royal Court Theatre in February 2016 with I See You by Mongiwekhaya.”

And for those worried about the lack of trademark Weasley ginger hair atop Paul Thornley’s head, show-writer Jack Thorne has stepped in to reassure you that Paul is ‘ginger in his soul’!:

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In light of these responses, keep the discussion going over on our Facebook and Twitter – we’re looking forward to further announcements to come, so make sure you keep posted!





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.