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Emma Watson has been banned from driving for six months after clocking up four speeding offences in less than two years.
The actress, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, appeared before magistrates yesterday after being caught driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone in her £30,000 Audi.
She was sentenced at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, where she admitted the offence and was handed three penalty points, taking her total to 12 points on her licence, which triggers an automatic ban.
Watson was ordered to pay a total of £1,044 in fines and costs, broken down as:
She has 28 days to pay the amount in full.
A string of offences
The court heard that this was her fourth driving offence in 16 months, having already received points for speeding in October 2023, November 2023, and January 2024.
Watson, 35, did not speak to reporters outside court, but her legal representative stated that she “accepts full responsibility” and intends to arrange alternative transport while serving her ban.
The incident has raised eyebrows among fans, as the actress, who has also built a reputation as an activist and UN Women goodwill ambassador, is widely known for her clean-cut image.
A double dose of Potter in court
In a remarkable twist, Watson wasn’t the only Harry Potter star facing justice at the same court yesterday.
Just moments after her case concluded, her former co-star Zoë Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in the first movie, appeared before the same bench.
Wanamaker, 75, was caught doing 46mph in a 40mph zone on the M4 near her Wiltshire home. She too admitted the offence, though the details of her sentence were not made public at the time.
Fans on social media were quick to joke about the unusual coincidence, with one posting:
“Madam Hooch teaching Hermione bad driving habits? The Hogwarts DMV would like a word!”
Keeping a low profile
Watson has kept a relatively low profile in recent years, appearing in only a handful of acting roles while focusing on her humanitarian work.
In previous interviews, she admitted she prefers privacy over the spotlight, saying: “I value my independence and space, it’s what keeps me grounded.”
For now, it seems that independence won’t extend to the roads, at least until her ban expires.
