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Harry Potter, the seven-book series written by J.K. Rowling, is one of the most famous franchises of all time. The books were adapted into eight very successful movies. The witch Hermione Granger was famously played by Emma Watson. The stage production “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is set 19 years after the last book was published, and African actress Noma Dumezweni will play a middle-aged Hermione. The play is scheduled to open in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London, England.
An accomplished actress
Dumezweni, 45, was born in Swaziland to South African parents and moved to England when she was a child. She has been acting in over a dozen London theater productions and has had guest roles in many popular British television shows such as Doctor Who and Shameless. She has even won a Laurence Olivier Award for her role in A Raisin in the Sun. And Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is already proving to be a smash success; it sold 175,000 tickets in the first 24 hours.
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The decision is making headlines
The casting has made headlines, as the character is traditionally believed to be white – though her race in the books has been hotly debated by fans for years. There has been some backlash against the decision. Just like when John Boyega was cast in Star Wars, when Michael B. Jordan was cast as Johnny Storm in the latest Fantastic Four movie, and when Idris Elba was Heimdall in the Thor franchise, many people expect traditionally white casts and characters to remain that way. When Boyega and Elba were cast, fans even threatened to boycott the movies. Dumezweni has dealt with this issue before when she played a role in the production Linda that was originally created for white actress Kim Cattrall. When she was cast in Linda she said in an interview with The Guardian:
“These sort of parts don’t come to me that often. I’m a great theatre actor and a great supporting actor…but here I am playing a role that was originally going to be a white woman, and that’s what the set-up around the casting is. I’m very, very proud of it.”
Good friends
“Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione.” She added “I’m so excited with the choice of casting for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” I can’t wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer.”
The author also retweeted fan art of Dumezweni as Hermione. And Emma Watson, who originated the role, also tweeted her support:
“Can’t wait to see Noma Dumezweni as Hermione on stage this year. #harrypotterandthecursedchild #2016.”
Matthew Lewis, who portrayed character Neville Longbottom, has also come out in support. When a fan asked him what he thought of a woman of color being cast as Hermione and stated “no continuity” he responded that his own character was supposed to be blonde. “I really don’t care. Good luck to her,” he added.
SEE ALSO: Idris Elba Is “Too Street” to Play James Bond Says A Writer.
