Actress Bel Powley, who will play Petunia Dursley in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter books, has said she “strongly disagrees” with author JK Rowling’s views on gender.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 34-year-old said: “I strongly disagree with JK Rowling’s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”
Powley added that, despite her disagreement with Rowling, she remains a huge fan of the book series. “I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness,” she said.
Rowling’s stance and fan reaction
Rowling has stated she believes biological sex is real and immutable and has been critical of self-declared gender identity, calling it “quasi-religious” and “anti-science”. She has denied being transphobic and previously said she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”.
Rowling’s representatives have been contacted for comment. The HBO series is set to premiere on December 25.
Cast members split on the issue
Several Harry Potter film stars have expressed disagreement with Rowling’s views, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. Radcliffe said he believes “trans women are women”, while Watson said: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.”
Other franchise stars have defended the author. Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort, criticised online vitriol aimed at Rowling, saying: “The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling.”
