Katherine Parkinson made her stance clear on the controversy surrounding JK Rowling’s views on transgender rights after being cast as Molly Weasley in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series.
The IT Crowd star, like several of the actors who’ve signed up to appear in the TV adaptation of Rowling’s wizarding series, has faced criticism from trans activists for participating and working alongside the author.
Parkinson, who currently stars in BBC One’s Here We Go and Disney Plus’s Rivals, was announced last month as Ron Weasley’s mother in the new adaptation of Rowling’s books.
She’ll join the likes of Nick Frost, John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Paul Whitehouse in the cast, as well as the young trio Arabella Stanton, Alastair Stout, and Dominic McLaughlin.
PA | HBO Harry Potter: Katherine Parkinson will join the cast of the TV series With so much scrutiny surrounding each actor’s involvement in the Rowling-backed project, Parkinson has become the latest star to respond to the critique.
When asked by RadioTimes.com whether Rowling’s views gave her any hesitation about signing on, Parkinson stood firm on the issue, refusing to pander and engage in debate.
“I don’t want to add to that debate at all,” she hit back before defiantly stating: “I’m just delighted to be joining the magical world of Harry Potter.”
However, her refusal to address the saga may disappoint many fans of Parkinson voiced their upset at her involvement, due to Harry Potter author Rowling being the show’s executive producer.
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PA | The controversy surrounding Rowling’s gender critical views continues to cast a shadow over the production, with more than 400 people signing a letter urging the UK’s film and television industry to take action against her on trans rights.
Rowling frequently expresses her “gender-critical” views on the trans community online, and has been widely criticised by celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Stephen Fry, and Margaret Atwood for the tone of her comments.
Other cast members of the Harry Potter TV series have offered fuller responses to questions about Rowling’s views.
Frost, who will star as Hagrid, recently said Rowling is “allowed her opinion” but said her thoughts on the trans community “don’t align in any way, shape or form” with his.
Lithgow, cast as Dumbledore, said Rowling’s views weren’t a factor in his decision to join the show.
“I thought, why is this a factor at all? I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her and I’m curious to talk to her,” he told The Times.
Essiedu, who will play Professor Severus Snape, signed an open letter pledging solidarity with the trans community following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman.
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Harry Potter: Nick Frost faced backlash from trans activist for landing the role of Hagrid
Rowling has been vocal about her gender-critical views on transgender people since 2020, resulting in condemnation from various sectors.
In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates, which was criticised by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall.
She has stated on social media that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”.
In May 2025, Rowling established the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”.
