Championship out: Harry Potter actors barred from driving cars

Emma Watson and Madame Hooch Receive Six‑Month Driving Suspensions

Dual Offenses Handled Separately in High Wycombe

Emma Watson, the 35‑year‑old actress best known for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series, was prohibited from driving for a six‑month period after riding an Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30‑mile zone on the M4 motorway in Banbury, southeastern England last July.

• Watson, who has been enrolled at Oxford University while working, was fined £1,044 ($1,400).
• Her lawyer explained that, although she remains a student, she is financially capable of settling the fine.

Zoe Wanamaker, 76, who played the Quidditch instructor Madame Hooch in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, received a six‑month suspension as well. She was caught driving at 46 miles per hour in a 40‑mile zone on the M4 motorway in Berkshire, southeastern England last August.

• Like Watson, Wanamaker was fined £1,044 ($1,400).
• Both stars did not attend the hearings, which were conducted by a lower magistrates court located in High Wycombe.

Key Takeaways

These separate circumstances underscore the importance of adhering to speed limits, especially when traveling on major motorways. In both instances, the official penalties were determined through independent magistrates proceedings, and the actors were fined at £1,044 for each offense.