Emma Watson Hit With Driving Ban After Speeding at 38 mph in 30‑Zone Near Oxford

Emma Watson has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding at 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford last summer. The incident took place on Banbury Road on 31 July 2024 and was recorded by a roadside speed camera.

The 35-year-old actress, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, did not appear at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 16 July. Her solicitor entered a guilty plea on her behalf.

Watson already had nine points on her licence from three previous speeding offences, the court heard. This latest offence raised her total to 12 points, triggering an automatic six-month driving ban under UK motoring laws.

£1,044 Fine Issued by Magistrates

Watson was fined £660, reduced due to her early guilty plea. She was also ordered to pay a £264 victim surcharge and £120 in court costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,044.

The magistrate confirmed that the six-month driving ban will stand. No application was made to reduce the disqualification on grounds of exceptional hardship.

According to BBC News, the court found that the Audi involved was travelling 'significantly over' the speed limit. No mitigating circumstances were presented during the hearing.

Balancing Academia and Public Scrutiny

At the time of the offence, Watson was pursuing a PhD in creative writing at the University of Oxford. According to The Times, she has chosen a quieter lifestyle in recent years, focussing on academics and rowing as a coxswain for New College's Women's Third Eight crew.

While Watson has not publicly commented on the incident, her representatives have affirmed her determination to fully comply with the ban and penalties imposed.

Her scholarly studies have kept her mostly out of the spotlight since her last major film cameo in 2019's Little Women. Despite maintaining a lower profile, the actress remains a figure of public interest, especially among fans of the Harry Potter franchise.

Another Potter Actress Disqualified Minutes Later

Watson was not the only former Harry Potter actress to face driving charges this week. The Times said that Zoë Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in the film series, appeared before the same judge shortly after Watson.

Wanamaker, 76, was caught driving at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone on the M4 highway in August 2024. Like Watson, she had 12 penalty points and received a six-month driving restriction and a comparable fine.