Harry Potter Star Katie Leung Breaks Silence On Racist Comments 15 Years Later

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While the franchise created many memorable moments, it wasn’t without its problems. Its huge success unfortunately brought online harassment, and actress Katie Leung has spoken about experiencing racism as a result of her involvement.

The actress, first appearing in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was portrayed as Harry’s love interest and continued that role in the 2007 film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Katie Leung spoke openly about her experiences with racism.

Okay, so this actress stepped into a huge franchise that was already a massive hit. When I asked her about the whirlwind of instant fame, she was surprisingly honest – she basically said she didn’t cope well at all! She acknowledged there were good and bad sides to joining, but confessed she just wasn’t prepared for that level of attention. It was a really refreshing, and frankly relatable, answer.

Looking back, it was a lot to handle right from the start,” Leung said. “Being so young and suddenly in the public eye, especially when you’re already feeling unsure of yourself, was really tough.

I recently spoke with the star, and she described acting as a genuinely joyful experience. She confessed it was a welcome escape from her school days, which she clearly didn’t enjoy. It’s fascinating to hear her still processing how that early shift – finding freedom and fun in performance – shaped her, and she admitted she’s still unpacking it all.

The actress observed that while young performers were generally well-cared for, discussions around mental wellbeing and the impact of social media weren’t as common or developed as they are now. She reflected that it’s hard to say if things could have been improved at the time, noting that young people are naturally inquisitive. She remembered being very interested in what others said about her and admitted to frequently searching for herself online. She believes she couldn’t have been stopped from doing so, as she was old enough to make her own decisions.

The actress shared that she was hurt by racist and personal attacks she received online and struggled with how to respond. She explained that the negativity really affected her, causing her to second-guess her decisions and become more reserved. She found herself constantly monitoring her words, worried about the reactions they might provoke.

Leung shared that she often felt her success wasn’t deserved, explaining it was simply luck. She admitted she spent a long time trying to prove herself and perhaps went overboard in doing so.

Katie Leung Is Joining a Huge Franchise

The actress, known for roles beyond the Harry Potter series, is now joining the cast of the popular show Bridgerton. She said the new project felt comfortable, noting she’s more mature now and isn’t intimidated by joining such a large production.

Season 4 of the popular Netflix historical romance is coming soon, and this time the story will focus on Benedict Bridgerton. Joining the cast is an actress playing Lady Araminta Gun, a new character introduced in the upcoming season.

drops on Jan. 29 on Netflix. Part 2 follows a few weeks later on Feb. 26.

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2026-01-09 22:41