London : Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling today praised the casting of a black actress to play the wizard’s sidekick Hermione Granger in a London play based on the saga. Producers of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”, which is set to open in June, announced that Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni would play the role made famous by Emma Watson in the film series.
Creator Rowling gave her seal of approval in a tweet, writing: “brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione.” However, some Twitter users pointed out lines from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, in which the character’s “white face was sticking out from behind a tree.”
On MuggleNet.com, the most popular Harry Potter fansite, Booth Love wrote: “As a ‘fan of colour’ I see myself reflected plenty in the HP characters, thanks very much”. “We don’t need silly little ‘concessions’ that draw attention to matters of race in literature and entertainment.”
Others were unimpressed by the race debate. “People crying about Hermione’s skin colour within a fictional universe where people ride brooms to defy gravity. Stay mad,” said Andrien Gbinigie. Dumezweni won a prestigious Olivier Award, which recognise the stars of London theatre, for her role in the play “A Raisin in the Sun”.
She has also appeared in British TV shows “Shameless”, “Doctor Who” and “Eastenders”.
