Being cast in ‘Harry Potter‘ should have been a dream moment, but it quickly turned into something far more complicated. When news of her role became public, Katie Leung found herself facing racist bullying that followed her almost immediately, long before filming even began.
Years later, the Bridgerton actress is looking back at that time and has spoken openly about how the abuse took root early in her career and how, as a teenager, she lacked the tools or support to process what was happening or protect herself from the impact.
Criticism Began The Moment Katie Leung Was Cast In ‘Harry Potter’
Leung was still in her teens when she landed the role of Cho Chang in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Before cameras started rolling, her casting leaked online, triggering a wave of racist comments and hateful messages. Instead of celebrating her first major film role, she was forced to confront hostility aimed directly at her ethnicity.
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In a recent interview with The Guardian, Leung said the experience felt overwhelming from the start. She explained that being pushed into the spotlight while already insecure made the situation even harder to navigate.
At the time, she focused on the excitement of filming and escaping a school life she didn’t enjoy, without realising how deeply the abuse was affecting her.
She admitted she actively searched for comments about herself online. “I remember being very curious about what people were saying about me, and I was Googling myself,” she said. Leung added that she didn’t know how to cope with the hurtful things she read and had no way of stopping herself from looking.
Leung Is Entering ‘Bridgerton’ With A Completely Different Mindset
Looking back now, Leung recognises that the abuse didn’t simply fade away. She said it stayed with her and influenced her behaviour and decisions over time. “It affected me,” she explained, noting that it likely made her less outgoing and far more self-aware in everyday conversations.
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Sharing the screen with actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson added to the pressure. As a young actor new to the industry, she didn’t know how to deal with global scrutiny, especially when it was personal and racially charged.
Leung also revealed that she never expected to get the role at all. At 16, she attended the open audition, hoping it might somehow reunite her divorced parents, imagining a Parent Trap-style outcome. The reality that followed was something she was completely unprepared for.
Now 38, Leung is preparing to appear in season four of Bridgerton as the cold and scheming Lady Araminta Gun. Stepping into another massive franchise feels familiar, but she says she approaches it with far more emotional distance and confidence. She credits age, motherhood, and experience with giving her perspective.
Acting still matters to her, but it no longer defines her entire identity. She explained that she can now leave work behind at the end of the day and focus on her life away from the spotlight. Leung also praised Bridgerton’s colour-conscious casting, saying the inclusive environment made her feel safe on set. Now, how the audience reacts to the casting is yet to be seen.
