Actress Keira Knightley has revealed she was “not aware” of the ongoing boycott of the Harry Potter franchise when she signed on to voice Professor Dolores Umbridge in Audible’s upcoming full-cast audiobook series.
Speaking to Decider in a recent interview, the two-time Academy Award nominee expressed regret upon learning of the boycott tied to author JK Rowling‘s controversial statements about the transgender community. “I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry,” Knightley told the outlet.
The actress attempted to navigate the sensitive topic by calling for mutual understanding across differing viewpoints. “You know, I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect,” she stated.
The backlash toward Rowling began in 2020 after the author posted several tweets and a 3,600-word essay that was extremely transphobic. Since then, several prominent Harry Potter film stars have publicly distanced themselves from Rowling’s views. In the weeks following Rowling’s initial statements, actors Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint all posted statements on social media in defense of the trans community.
The controversy has not deterred major entertainment projects tied to the franchise. Last month, Deadline reported that Knightley will voice Professor Umbridge in Pottermore Publishing and Audible’s Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions. The star-studded production also features Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, and Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape.
After Rowling previously celebrated the UK’s Supreme Court ruling that prohibits trans women from being legally recognized as women, more than 400 people signed a letter urging the country’s film and television industry to take action on trans rights.
Despite the ongoing debate, Harry Potter-related content continues to attract audiences. Meanwhile, HBO is currently developing a television adaptation of the beloved book series, with Rowling attached as an executive producer.
Knightley is currently promoting her Netflix thriller The Woman in Cabin 10 and did not elaborate on whether knowledge of the boycott would have influenced her decision to join the audiobook project.