Emma Watson, the beloved actress best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" film series, has been banned from driving in the United Kingdom for six months following a speeding violation in 2024. The decision was handed down on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, where Watson was also fined £1,044 (approximately $1,400).
The incident that led to this penalty occurred on July 31, 2024, when Watson was caught driving her blue Audi S3 at 38 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone on Banbury Road in Oxford. The offense was recorded by a speed camera, and Watson was subsequently charged by post. She pleaded guilty to the speeding charge on March 3, 2025.
At the court hearing, which lasted just five minutes, Watson did not attend in person but was represented by her lawyer, Mark Haslam. Her attorney stated on her behalf, "She is in a position to pay the fine." Despite her absence, the court proceeded with sentencing, resulting in the six-month driving ban and the substantial fine.
This is not Watson's first brush with driving offenses. The court was informed that she already had nine points on her license prior to this speeding incident, accumulated from three previous offenses dating back to October and November 2023 and January 2024. The addition of three points for this violation triggered the automatic suspension of her driving privileges.
Watson’s Audi S3 had also been involved in a separate issue earlier in 2024 when it was towed by police after being illegally parked. The car, valued at around £30,000, was blocking access to other vehicles in Stratford-upon-Avon, leading to a fine of £192. Watson reportedly appealed to the police to release her vehicle, but to no avail.
Currently, Watson has been living a quieter life away from the Hollywood spotlight. Since stepping back from acting, she has been pursuing academic goals at the University of Oxford, where she enrolled in 2023 to study creative writing at the master's level, with plans to continue toward a DPhil (the Oxford equivalent of a PhD). She has been actively involved in university life, including participating in the Summer Eights rowing regatta.
Her decision to retreat from the film industry came after a decade of fame, beginning with her breakout role as Hermione Granger in 2001 at the age of 11. Watson starred in all eight "Harry Potter" films until 2011 and went on to appear in other notable projects such as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Little Women." In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the short film "Prada Paradoxe," a campaign for the luxury brand Prada.
Watson has also been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues. In a recent interview with Vogue, she emphasized that striving for perfection is not necessary to make a meaningful impact. "Perfection is the enemy of almost everything that’s important," she said, highlighting her efforts within Hollywood and the fashion industry to promote sustainability.
Interestingly, Watson was not the only "Harry Potter" alum to face driving penalties on the same day. Zoe Wanamaker, who portrayed Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher in the first "Harry Potter" film, was also sentenced at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court. The 76-year-old actress was caught driving 46 mph in a 40 mph zone on the M4 motorway in southeastern Berkshire in August 2024. Like Watson, Wanamaker had nine points on her license before this incident and received three additional points, resulting in a six-month driving ban and a £1,044 fine. Wanamaker did not attend her hearing either.
The judge presiding over both cases, Arvind Sharma, confirmed the deduction of three points from each license, which led to the automatic suspension. Neither actress attended their respective court hearings, with their lawyers representing them.
Watson’s driving ban means she will likely rely on public transportation or other means of travel until the suspension ends in 2026. Meanwhile, the "Harry Potter" franchise continues to evolve, with HBO developing a television reboot set to debut in 2027. Watson will not reprise her role as Hermione Granger; instead, the character will be portrayed by newcomer Arabella Stanton.
Despite the setback, Watson remains focused on her academic pursuits and environmental activism, balancing her past fame with a more private and purposeful life. As she once reflected, stepping away from acting has given her a sense of creative sovereignty and autonomy she previously lacked, allowing her to embrace the uncertainties of her path without regret.
