Emma Watson, renowned for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been banned from driving for six months following a speeding incident. The 35-year-old actress was caught driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone on Banbury Road in Oxford on the evening of 31 July 2024.

Watson, who is currently pursuing a DPhil in creative writing at the University of Oxford, did not attend the hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. She was represented by her lawyer, Mark Haslam, who stated that she "fully understands her position and will accept her punishment."

The court heard that Watson had already accumulated nine points on her driving licence prior to this incident. As a result, she was fined a total of £1,044, which included a £650 fine, £120 in court costs, and a £264 surcharge. District Judge Advind Sharma imposed the six-month ban and added three points to her licence.

In a related case, Zoe Wanamaker, who starred alongside Watson in the first Harry Potter film, was also banned from driving for six months during the same court session. Wanamaker, 76, was caught speeding at 46mph in a 40mph zone on the M4 in Newbury, Berkshire, on 7 August 2024. She too had nine points on her licence and was fined £1,044.

Both actresses did not attend their respective hearings, which lasted only a few minutes.