Emma Watson Fined ₹1.2 Lakh, Banned From Driving For 6 Months After Speeding Violation

Actress Emma Watson has reportedly been handed a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding over the legal limit. The ruling came during a brief hearing on Wednesday (July 16), at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court in Wycombe, England.

According to media reports, the Harry Potter star was also fined £1,044 ($1,396, approximately Rs 1.20 lakh).

According to reports by the BBC, the 35-year-old actress was caught driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in July 2024. At the time of the offence, Emma already had nine penalty points on her driver's license. Due to the accumulation of points, she was automatically disqualified from driving.

Reportedly, Emma did not attend the five-minute court hearing, but the penalty was confirmed in her absence.

Emma, who rose to global fame as a child star when she portrayed Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, has not reacted to the ban yet.

The actress has stepped away from the spotlight in recent years and enrolled in a master's program in creative writing at Oxford University in September 2024. She was last spotted in public on February 14 at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Oakland, California, followed by another at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Her portrayal of the clever, courageous witch earned her worldwide admiration and marked the beginning of a successful acting career.

Following the conclusion of the Harry Potter films, she took on diverse roles in movies such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Noah, The Bling Ring, and Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. In 2019, she starred in Greta Gerwig’s critically acclaimed Little Women.

Apart from acting, she has also been celebrated for her work as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and for launching the HeForShe campaign advocating for gender equality.