It’s not every day that two familiar faces from the Harry Potter franchise end up in the same courtroom, and not for a reunion—but for breaking traffic laws.
That’s exactly what happened when Zoe Wanamaker and Emma Watson, both known for their roles in the iconic series, found themselves standing before a judge for separate speeding offences.
Zoe Wanamaker Loses Her License After Accumulating Too Many Points
Zoe Wanamaker, best known for playing Madam Hooch in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and starring in the BBC sitcom My Family, has officially been banned from driving for six months.
The 77-year-old actress was recently caught driving at 46mph in a 40mph speed zone on the M4 in Wiltshire.
Although the speed wasn’t excessively over the limit, Wanamaker had already accumulated nine penalty points on her license from previous infractions that took place on June 26, 2023, December 11, 2023, and July 1, 2024.
The latest three points pushed her total to twelve—the maximum allowed before an automatic disqualification comes into play.
Same Courtroom, Same Sentence, Same Fine
In an interesting twist, Emma Watson—famous for her role as Hermione Granger—was called to the same courtroom just moments before Wanamaker, and for a remarkably similar reason.
Both women were slapped with a £1,044 total fine and banned from driving for six months.
District Judge Arvind Sharma explained that Wanamaker’s fine had been reduced to £660 due to her early guilty plea.
She was also ordered to pay a £264 victim surcharge and £120 in court costs—all due within 28 days.
No Special Privileges for Wanamaker
Wanamaker’s lawyer, Duncan Jones, made it clear to the court that the actress was not asking for any leniency.
“She accepts her disqualification without protest,” he told the judge.
Zoe Wanamaker rose to fame through both stage and screen, having been nominated nine times for an Olivier Award.
Her filmography extends beyond Hogwarts, including roles in Criminal Record on Apple TV, ITV’s The Man Who Fell To Earth, and the thriller series Killing Eve.
She also played the fierce Queen Antedia in Britannia from 2017 to 2021 and recently appeared in a reboot of the classic crime drama Bergerac as Charlie Hungerford.
Notably, Wanamaker never returned to the Harry Potter sequels after her first appearance, publicly stating that the film’s producers failed to fairly compensate actors.
Emma Watson’s Speeding Incident Linked to Oxford
Emma Watson’s own driving offence took place on a restricted road in Oxford, where she’s been pursuing a doctorate.
She was behind the wheel of her £30,000 Audi S3 when a speed camera caught her breaking the limit.
Like Wanamaker, her driving ban was triggered by reaching the penalty point cap.
Watson is no stranger to driving issues.
In early 2024, her Audi was towed after she parked illegally outside the Rose and Crown pub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Her vehicle blocked access to a car park, stranding a pizza restaurant manager’s car for hours.
Despite Watson’s attempts to intervene when she saw her car being towed, police proceeded with the action, and she ended up with a £192 fine.
What Comes Next for the Stars?
Both actresses now face six months off the road and fines to pay, but it’s unlikely to slow them down professionally.
Wanamaker continues to work in television, while Watson balances her academic pursuits with acting and activism.
Whether behind the wheel or not, these stars remain in the spotlight—just this time for slightly less magical reasons.