Helena Bonham Carter, a Harry Potter Actress Most Recent to Support J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter actress Helena Bonham Carter has gone up to defend J.K. Rowling as the author continues to stir up controversy. Despite having founded one of the most adored fantasy franchises ever, Rowling has been embroiled in controversy for the past few years after being criticised for a string of tweets and comments that were perceived as transphobic. The best-selling author has received death threats in addition to other forms of backlash. Since then, Rowling has remained mostly steadfast in her convictions, and numerous Harry Potter actors have offered their perspectives.
In a recent interview with The Times, Helena Bonham Carter opened up about the backlash towards Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. The Bellatrix Lestrange actor defended Rowling against those speaking ill of her, feeling that the criticisms were “horrendous” and “a load of bollocks.” See what Carter said below:
I think she has been hounded. It’s been taken to the extreme, the judgmentalism of people. She’s allowed her opinion, particularly if she’s suffered abuse. Everybody carries their own history of trauma and forms their opinions from that trauma, and you have to respect where people come from and their pain. You don’t all have to agree on everything — that would be insane and boring. She’s not meaning it aggressively, she’s just saying something out of her own experience. Personally I feel [my costars] should let her have her opinions, but I think they’re very aware of protecting their own fan base and their generation.
J.K. Rowling Has Divided Harry Potter Fans & Its Cast
Voldemort casting a spell while yelling in Harry Potter.
Carter isn’t the only member of the Harry Potter cast to defend the author of the series; Ralph Fiennes, who plays Voldemort, has also frequently defended Rowling. He thinks she should be praised for creating an entire franchise centred around “empowerment,” and he calls those who speak out against her “disgusting” and “appalling.” Additionally, the late actor who played Hagrid said that while he may come out as “a grouchy old man,” he believes some fans needed to “get over themselves.” Even outside of the franchise, comedian Eddie Izzard has defended Rowling, saying that rather than being transphobic, some people need to take a closer look at the difficulties she has faced as a woman.
On the flip side, multiple Harry Potter actors have spoken out against Rowling’s comments. Lead star Daniel Radcliffe previously apologized for the author’s perceived transphobic beliefs, and more recently explained his apology stemmed from having met many fans who identified in the LGBTQ+ community in the years since the franchise completed that resonated with the films and he didn’t want to have them feel it tarnished. Rupert Grint, Jason Isaacs and Evanna Lynch all took a more middle-of-the-road approach to addressing Rowling’s comments, acknowledging their disagreements with some of her beliefs, while also still feeling close to the author.
Despite her controversy, Rowling still appears to have a bright future with Warner Bros. Discovery and the Harry Potter series as a whole. Despite the last Fantastic Beasts films’ lacklustre box office results and mixed critical and audience receptions, WBD CEO David Zaslav has revealed a desire to revive the franchise. Viewers can revisit the Wizarding World franchise by streaming it in its entirety on HBO Max right now while they wait to learn what the future holds.