The New Harry Potter Play Will Feature a Woman of Color as Hermione
Don’t get us wrong: We love love LOVE Emma Watson as Hermoine Granger (or just about anytime, let’s be real). But we also get majorly stoked when our fave stories and brands get a body positive or inclusive upgrade. Like, hello, it’s practically 2016, and women come in a lot of shapes, shades and sizes, y’know? That’s why you’ll be just as pumped as we were to hear this exciting Harry Potter news.
The cast for London’s West End production of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will feature 45-year-old Noma Dumezweni in the role of Hermione. The Swaziland-born, British-raised award-winning actress is the first woman of color to take on the much-loved role, which was originally slated for Kim Cattrall.
Some of my favourite Hermione fanarts next to our new Hermione! pic.twitter.com/80bIkcLBMJ
— alice in wonderland (@alwaysdragxns) December 20, 2015
While the announcement might be new, the idea of Hermione as a black character is one that’s been around for more than a minute (and has been immortalized in many tumblrs‘ worth of fan art). J.K. Rowling is also a fan of the upgrade, tweeting that she “loves black Hermione.”
What are your thoughts on the change? Tweet us your Hermione love @BritandCo!
(Photos via Warner Bros. and Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.)
