Bel Powley Disagrees With J.K. Rowling on Gender

Actress Bel Powley has stated that she "strongly disagrees" with author J.K. Rowling's views on gender, becoming the latest cast member of the upcoming HBO television adaptation of the Harry Potter books to publicly distance herself from the creator's stance on transgender issues. Powley, who is set to play Harry Potter's aunt Petunia Dursley in the series, made the comments in an interview with The Telegraph published on August 10, 2026.

"I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling's views on gender," Powley told the newspaper. "I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance." Despite her disagreement, the 34-year-old actress explained that her personal connection to the source material influenced her decision to join the project. "But, I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness."

Powley is not the first actor in the new series to express such views. John Lithgow, who will portray Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, earlier described Rowling's position as "ironic and inexplicable." Speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival, the 80-year-old actor said he...