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Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes hits out at ‘furious’ trans backlash against JK Rowling – and echoes author’s concerns about female-only spaces

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Actress Miriam Margolyes, known for her roles in Harry Potter, has expressed disagreement with the backlash from the transgender community towards JK Rowling’s thoughts on gender identity, although she clarifies that she doesn’t entirely share the author’s views on this subject.

Miriam, age 84 and famously known for her role as Professor Sprout in the popular wizarding series, expressed that she found some of J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender issues to be too severe. However, she showed concern over the intense criticism Rowling has faced more recently.

59-year-old J.K. Rowling has garnered significant backlash from members of the LGBTQ+ community and some actors from the Harry Potter movie series, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, due to her expressed apprehensions about gender theories and designated single-sex environments.

She expressed her backing for transgender rights, yet maintains the perspective that being a woman is tied to one’s biological sex – an opinion endorsed by the UK Supreme Court this year – and actively advocates for preserving female-exclusive areas.

Her comments have been branded transphobic by some campaigners.

Miriam, a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and openly gay herself, expressed her backing for trans individuals yet emphasized the need for more kindness towards those who critique the community.

‘I’ve never met [Rowling], and I’ve never discussed this with her,’ Miriam said. 

I find her writing to be top-notch, especially her detective stories which I absolutely adore. They’re brilliant! However, I don’t share the same viewpoint as hers on the trans issue. I believe her stance is overly severe, but it worries me that the response from the trans community has been so aggressive.

During the recent installment of A Gay Old Time podcast, she expressed: ‘It’s not beneficial to be so angry. Instead, let’s show compassion towards one another. After all, we’ve all faced marginalization from certain parts of society. So, let’s aim for kindness instead.’

The award-winning actress, honored with an OBE in 2002 for her contributions to drama and recognized for her genuine appeal and open-hearted interviews, admitted that trans individuals often face significant oppression. She went on to commend those she’s encountered as ‘simply charming, stunningly beautiful, and incredibly courageous’.

However, she agreed with J.K. Rowling’s perspective that some women might experience apprehension or unease around biologically male individuals, irrespective of their self-identified gender, within exclusively female environments.

As a conscientious observer, I recognize that the fear of potential sexual violence is not exclusive to any particular gender identity. Regardless if a woman identifies as heterosexual, lesbian, or anything in between, she may feel apprehensive when in proximity to someone who possesses the biological characteristics associated with males due to the unfortunate reality of sexual assault.

‘It seems obvious to me that individuals traveling from one place to another should understand this. Women are disproportionately victims of attacks and rape compared to men, so it’s important to recognize the fear that comes with these risks.’

Miriam joined the growing discussion on the topic of trans athletes competing in women’s sports, stating: ‘I believe individuals with male physiques shouldn’t participate in sports alongside those with female physiques. I simply feel it’s not equitable. Perhaps a different classification is needed.’

In her continued advocacy for transgender rights, she expressed concern that the conversation has grown excessively divisive and urged for a more balanced approach with greater complexity.

She stated, “We’re not strictly categorized. We’re not just black-and-white. There are numerous categories and we have the freedom to choose which ones we align with or not. However, it’s important to treat those who don’t fit into the same category as us with kindness.

Her comments follow decades of open disputes among former Harry Potter cast members regarding J.K. Rowling’s stance.

Despite Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson openly disassociating themselves from the author and advocating for transgender individuals, some fellow cast members like Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter have stood up for J.K. Rowling’s freedom of speech regarding her beliefs.

Previously, Miriam expressed her backing for her Harry Potter co-stars’ freedom of speech. In 2022, she further stated that although she doesn’t agree with J.K. Rowling’s viewpoint, the criticism directed at the author was perhaps unjustified.

This week, in my latest podcast discussion, I made it clear that I have zero tolerance for bullying, be it in the political arena or any public forum of debate.

She declared, “I won’t tolerate bullying, that much is certain.” She added, “It’s crucial we foster more love. Sadly, there seems to be a scarcity of it around.

Just recently, Tom Felton was spotted at the 10-year theater anniversary celebration of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in Hamburg, once again expressing his backing for JK Rowling.

In a recent announcement, the actor who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the initial movies from 2001 to 2011 has disclosed that he’ll be taking on his character once more for the upcoming Broadway production.

While Emma, Daniel, and Rupert Grint have distanced themselves from J.K. Rowling over her contentious stance on transgender rights, Tom has openly expressed his backing towards the author.

For quite some time now, J.K. Rowling has openly expressed her views regarding transgender individuals, and more recently, she has repeatedly addressed transgender women as “men.

Although some of his fellow actors have grown cold towards her, over 20 years since J.K. Rowling provided him with a significant career boost, Tom continues to express his loyalty and gratitude towards the Harry Potter series author.

At the recent Tony Awards, Tom was questioned about whether the debate surrounding the writer’s stance on transgender rights had any impact on his professional endeavors.

He responded: ‘No, it doesn’t seem so for me. To be honest, I’m not particularly in tune with it. However, one thing I never forget is that I’ve been fortunate enough to traverse various parts of the globe.’

Here I am in New York City. There’s nothing quite like it that has united the world as much as Potter, and she’s the one to thank for this harmony. Consequently, I am extremely thankful.

I am currently in New York. Nothing else seems to have brought the world closer together than Potter, and she’s the one behind it all. As a result, I feel incredibly grateful.

In April, Rowling unequivocally stated that she would not be able to forgive the young cast members of the movie series for expressing their disagreement with her stance on transgender rights.

I’m afraid not.

The author stated that celebrities who supported a movement aiming to undermine women’s rights, particularly by advocating for the transition of minors, should direct their apologies towards those who have been traumatized by de-transitioning and women who depend on single-sex spaces for safety.

Tom also previously expressed his excitement about joining the upcoming Broadway production.

In an interview with Variety, he expressed: “We all assumed that the passion for the wizarding world would gradually diminish over time. However, it’s evident now that this isn’t the case.

The best part about it is doing it live. After around nine months, we filmed the movie. Now, everything has been condensed and transformed into an engaging, concise narrative. Plus, I get to play a father, which has been quite enjoyable.

Tom is set to join the cast in November and perform in the production for a duration of 19 weeks, wrapping up his stint in March 2026.

Earlier, Radcliffe responded to allegations of ingratitude towards his achievements by stating that he doesn’t feel obligated to believe what others think he should. Meanwhile, Watson expressed support for transgender individuals, believing they should be allowed to live without constant scrutiny. Grint shared similar views with Watson.

Simultaneously, other stars have voiced their dismay regarding J.K. Rowling’s treatment, as Robbie Coltrane asserted that nothing she said in 2020 was considered offensive, Ralph Fiennes couldn’t comprehend the hostility directed at her in 2021, and Helena Bonham Carter defended Rowling in 2022, stating she had been unfairly criticized and was entitled to her viewpoints.

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2025-07-16 14:51

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