Harry Potter star Emma Watson did not appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for sentencing, after pleading guilty to speeding after she was caught doing 38mph in a 30mph zone

Key Events

Actress’ Harry Potter co-star handed driving ban at same court on same day12:03

Emma Watson banned from driving08:44 

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has been handed a six month driving ban at High Wycombe Magistrates Court today after pleading guilty to speeding.

The 35 year old actress, who is actively involved in climate change activism, earlier this year admitted to driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone. She was driving her Audi S3, which was towed away last year after being illegally parked, when her car was caught by a camera on Banbury Road, Oxford.

Emma was later charged by post and pleaded guilty to the driving offence on March 3. Today she was sentenced over the driving offence.

15:01Amy Denman

Inside Emma’s life at university

Since stepping away from the spotlight, Emma has gone on to study at the University of Oxford.

Throwing herself into the student lifestyle since joining the institution in 2023, Emma was spotted earlier this year competeing on the rowing team for the universtiy Summer Eights rowing regetta. She was seen in May shouting instructions at the New College women’s third team in a white baseball cap and best top, which she wore alogn with a pair of grey leggings and a life jacket.

The Harry Potter star joined the university to study for a master’s degree before taking on a DPhil.

Meanwhile, the star is said to be dating Kieran Brown, who has finished his doctorate at the university. They were spotted kissing outside a Gail’s bakery in the city last year.

14:11Amy Denman

Emma Watson’s campaigning for the environment

Actress Emma has been vocal about her passion for the enivornment and has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives to rase awareness of climate change.

And, in her last public interview with Vogue magazine, the actress – who owns an Audi S3 sports car – lamented how you don’t have to be the “perfect environmentalist” to make a change.

She told the publication: “Perfection is the enemy of almost everything that’s important.

“The place where I have influence is, I’m an actress, and I work in the fashion industry, and so my points of contact are Hollywood and fashion. I do what I can to push as hard as I can within those [spaces].”

13:27Amy Denman

Emma Watson’s last on-screen appearance before shunning showbiz

After rising to fame on the Harry Potter film series, Emma embarked on a string of other roles away from the Wizarding World.

Before leaving showbiz behind, Emma appeared in the short Prada Paradoxe, released in 2022, as The Multi-Dimensional Woman. The short was directed by Emma herself and was a promotional campaign for luxury brand Prada.

The brand said of Emma’s role: “For her involvement in the Prada Paradoxe campaign, Emma Watson made a single request—to direct the film herself.

“Watson’s directorial debut is an empowered celebration of what it means to be a living paradox. She breaks the mold of the muse to be both in front of and behind the lens, writing her own script and narrating her story, redefining codes to represent her most authentic self.”

12:45Amy Denman

Speeding offence is Emma’s fourth driving offence in recent years

Emma already had nine points on her licence before she was caugt speeding last year.

It has been reported the incident is Emma’s fourth driving offences in less than two years as three previous offences date back to October 2023, November 2023 and January 2024.

12:20Amy Denman

Harry Potter star’s quiet life after turning back on acting

After shooting to mass fame following her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, Emma has opted to live a quieter life in recent years.

Emma continued to take on acting jobs after the Harry Potter movie series wrapped with roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Disney’s live action remake of Beauty and the Beast and the 2019 adaption of Little Women. However, in December 2023, she shared with Vogue she was “so glad” to have taken a step back from acting.

Sharing her decision behind the move, Emma said at the time: “I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before — more autonomy.” Emma added: “I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next], because the knowing that I’ve come to, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

After completing a degree in Enligh literature at Brown University in the US in 2014, Emma decided to return to her studies and is currently studying a DPhil (University of Oxford’s equivallent of a PhD) in creative writing at the prestigious university.

She also owns her own gin brand, called Renais, with her brother Alex.

12:03KEY EVENT

Actress’ Harry Potter co-star handed driving ban at same court on same day

Emma isn’t the only Harry Potter star to have been handed a driving ban at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court today.

In a seperate hearing at the same court today, Zoe Wanamaker, who starred in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 as teacher Madam Hooch, was also handed a six month driving ban and fined £1,044.

The 76-year-old drove her blue Volvo at 46mph in a 40mph limit, the court heard.

Both Watson and Wanamaker had nine points on their licences before the speeding incidents occurred.

Neither attended their short hearings.

Separately, Zoë Wanamaker was also handed a driving ban at High Wycombe Magistrates’ today (
Image:
Getty Images)

11:43Amy Denman

Emma’s Audi S3 was towed before speeding incident

The actress’ Audi S3 sports car was towed away by police in February 2024, months before she was caught speeding in Oxford.

Emma’s car, worth roughly £30,000, was towed away by police after he was parked illegally. It was reported at the time she failed to notice the ‘No Parking’ sign while she parked her car and met up with her mum at a pub across the street.

A local pizza restuarant manager’s car was reportedly trapped inside a gated compound behind Emma’s car. The restuarant manager’s car was said to have been stuck for three and half hours – as he reportedly embarked on a desperate search for the owner of the Audi S3, before calling police for help, who eventually towed the car.

Emma came out of the pub and found cops towing her car and appealed for them to let the car go – but her pleas were unsuccessful and she was handed a £192 fine.

At the time, Warwickshire Police confirmed that “a report of a blue Audi S3 parked across a driveway and blocking in two cars on High Street near the junction with Sheep Street in Stratford.

“The report was made at 9.42pm and the car was impounded and taken away at 10.21pm.

“No crime was recorded.”

After the incident, Emma made light of the incident. She wrote online: “Still searching for parking in Stratford upon Avon. Merchant of Venice v good if you can still get tickets.”

Emma’s Audi was towed after it was parked illegally last year (
Image:
GC Images)

11:33Amy Denman

Emma Watson already had nine points on her licence before ban

The court heard today that the actress already had nine points on her licence before the speeding incident last year, which took place on July 31 in Oxford.

Emma Watson already had nine points on her licence before she was caught speeding last year (
Image:
The Washington Post via Getty Images)

08:44KEY EVENT

Emma Watson banned from driving

The actress has been handed a six month driving ban in court this morning, after admitting to speeding. She did not attend court this morning but was represented in court by Mr Wilson, who said she “fully understands and accepts her punishment”.

The 35-year-old, now a student, was made to pay a total of £1,044 at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. She did not attend the five-minute hearing.

08:43Amy Denman

Harry Potter star caught speeding

Emma was caught exceeding the speed limit of 30mph on a Banbury Road in Oxford last year. Her blue Audi S3 car was caught by a speed camera doing 38mph in a 30mph zone.
08:41Amy Denman

Emma Watson hearing today

The Hermione Granger actress was due to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court today after pleading guilty to the offence of speeding. Her hearing was scheduled for 10am this morning. She did not attend court this morning.