Katie Leung is being praised by fans across the internet for her role as the formidable Lady Araminta Gun in the latest season of ‘Bridgerton‘. But one image that will always be associated with her is that of Cho Chang from the ‘Harry Potter‘ films.
Leung made her acting debut at just 16 in the famous franchise and quickly rose to stardom. However, in a recent interview, she revealed that her time in the franchise was way more difficult than people might think, and she would never want to go back.
The Dark Side of ‘The ‘Harry Potter’ Fame For Katie Leung
Katie Leung was just a teenager when made her screen debut in 2005’s ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ and went on to reprise the role in four more films in the franchise. Looking back, she acknowledges that the films were a huge part of her life, and she remains grateful for that opportunity. However, it was also a very difficult period, and she faced many challenges.
Leung still believes that landing the role of Cho Chang was largely a matter of luck. “And for the longest time, I may have tried to make up for it,” she shared with ET.
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Being suddenly thrown into such a massive project was extremely overwhelming for her. “I had never acted before in my life, and suddenly I was in front of 20 cameras and 100 people, completely lost, still figuring out who I was.”
Along with this pressure came harsh public scrutiny, racism, and deeply hurtful personal comments. She recalled, “I remember being very curious about what people were saying about me, and I was googling myself. Nobody could have stopped me, because I was old enough to make up my own mind.” Leung explained that she never really had the chance to process those experiences. So, the comments stayed with her.
She came out of the series thinking, “Nothing’s going to beat it.” She felt lost and wondered, “What’s next? People will have these high expectations of me topping it, and it’s never going to happen.” Because of such fears, she stepped away from acting for a while. Eventually, her passion for the craft brought her back.
A New Chapter For Katie Leung With ‘Bridgerton’
Now at 38, Katie Leung approached ‘Bridgerton‘ with a completely different mindset and “a really healthy focus on the work.” Being part of such a large production feels familiar to her experiences in the ‘Harry Potter‘ films, but this time she feels much more at ease.
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“I’m older, and at a place in my life where I’m not too fazed going into something seemingly so huge,” Leung admitted.
When asked about the upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ TV series, Leung shared some thoughtful advice for the young actors who will lead it. She acknowledged that the scrutiny they would face may be even greater, especially with constant comparison to the original cast. Even the golden trio from the movies have the same concern for the new cast.
All things considered, Leung’s advice is simple: stay true to yourself, “and not to let the kind of noise of other people get to you.”
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