Emma Watson, known for her role in 'Harry Potter', has received a six-month driving ban

Emma Watson, known for her role in 'Harry Potter', has received a six-month driving ban.

The 35-year-old British actress and activist was recorded driving her blue Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone in Oxford, England, on the evening of July 31 last year. She did not attend the brief hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where she was fined £1,044 ($1,400) and disqualified from driving, as reported by PA Media. Following Watson’s case, the court addressed a separate speeding violation involving her former 'Harry Potter' co-star, Zoë Wanamaker.

The renowned stage actress, who portrayed Quidditch referee Madam Hooch in the franchise’s inaugural film, received the same penalty as Watson after being caught driving at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone in Berkshire, southeast England, in August of the previous year, according to PA. The news agency indicated that both actresses had accumulated nine penalty points on their licenses prior to these speeding incidents. On Wednesday, District Judge Arvind Sharma added three additional points to their licenses for the recent offenses, which resulted in automatic six-month bans under UK law.

Media has contacted Watson’s representatives for a statement. A representative for Wanamaker has chosen not to comment. These concurrent rulings present an intriguing coincidence for two actresses whose careers once intertwined within the walls of Hogwarts, now both facing driving bans simultaneously. Watson, who gained international recognition for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in all eight 'Harry Potter' films, has since embarked on a parallel journey in academia, filmmaking, and advocacy for women's rights. Her post-'Potter' filmography includes leading roles in 'Beauty and the Beast' and Greta Gerwig’s 'Little Women.'