Nicola Coughlan, who starred in Bridgerton, didn't hold back when she publicly criticised J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, for her response to a recent UK Supreme Court decision that prohibits transgender women from being legally recognised as "women" under the Equality Act 2010.
In a move that caused widespread online outrage, Rowling, who has long been criticised for her views on gender identity, celebrated the verdict with a picture of herself holding a drink and a cigar.
Coughlan, 38, shared a screenshot of a news article about Rowling’s post on her Instagram Stories, writing, "Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole" — suggesting that she may have been approached for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series but has no interest in being involved.
In a follow-up video posted to her Instagram, Coughlan refrained from naming Rowling directly but expressed her deep discomfort at the situation. "I am completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling. To see an already marginalised community being further attacked, and attacked in law, is stomach-churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting," she said emotionally.
The Irish actor went on to encourage her followers to speak out in support of trans and non-binary people, saying, "Now's the time to speak up and make your voice heard. Let your trans, non-binary friends and the community at large know that you’re there for them and will keep fighting for them."
Meanwhile, Rowling wrote on X, "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court, and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK."
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This is not the first time Rowling has been accused of espousing anti-trans views. She has previously voiced support for For Women Scotland, a group pushing for the legal definition of 'woman' to be restricted to those assigned female at birth.
Separately, HBO Max recently revealed casting updates for its new Harry Potter adaptation, with John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid.
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