Emma Watson handed 6-month driving ban for speeding violation

Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding. According to the BBC, she was fined £1,044 by a magistrates' court in High Wycombe.

The speeding offence took place in July last year, when she was clocked driving her blue Audi at 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford. At the time, she already had nine points on her license. Watson didn’t appear in court herself; her legal team represented her.

Her lawyer, Mark Haslam, told the court that she’s currently studying and is able to pay the fine. Now 35, Watson enrolled in a graduate program at Oxford University in 2023, having stepped back from acting to focus on her education and personal growth.

She made a rare public appearance earlier this year at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival — her first time at the event in over a decade. Her most recent film role was in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. Over the years, Watson has spoken about needing time away from the spotlight to explore her interests beyond acting.

A longtime advocate for the environment, she’s been vocal about the importance of sustainability and climate action. Back in 2021, she hosted a climate panel with activist Greta Thunberg at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, showing her continued dedication to global environmental issues.