Harry Potter TV series star Katherine Parkinson doesn't wish to add to JK Rowling "debate" – and says role won't disrupt other projects
The actor, who has been cast as Molly Weasley, declined to comment on the author's controversial views.
Katherine Parkinson has said that she is not seeking to enter the discourse on JK Rowling's views, following her decision to join the forthcoming Harry Potter streaming series from US platform Max.
The major new project has garnered a mixed reaction thus far, due partly to its association with the author, who has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights.
In June, it was revealed that Parkinson would appear in the upcoming Harry Potter show – which once again adapts the original books by Rowling – in the role of Ron Weasley's mother, Molly (previously played by Julie Walters).
When asked by RadioTimes.com if the controversy surrounding Rowling's views gave her any hesitation about signing on, Parkinson said: "I don't want to add to that debate at all. I'm just delighted to be joining the magical world of Harry Potter."
The actor rose to fame in The IT Crowd – a sitcom created by Graham Linehan, who has also been outspoken on transgender issues – and currently stars in BBC One favourite Here We Go and acclaimed Disney Plus original Rivals, based on the novel by Dame Jilly Cooper.
Parkinson also told RadioTimes.com that her forthcoming duties on Harry Potter are unlikely to cause a clash with other roles in the immediate future, due to the fact that her "character isn't in it that much until, I think, series 4".
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She continued: "So, as far as I can tell, because it's very important to me to work as little as possible – always has been – I'm not going to be terribly needed for it."
Parkinson added that, since the Harry Potter series will be filmed at Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Watford, she won't be a "long way away" from the shooting locations of her other current projects.
"I'm hoping I'll be very free to do whatever I want," she concluded.
In 2020, Rowling published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall.
Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X, in which she insisted that "there are no trans kids" and opposed the idea that a child can be "born in the wrong body".
In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women's Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to "individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights".
Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community.
Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received.
Meanwhile, Paapa Essiedu – who will play Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter reboot – was one of hundreds of film and TV professionals to sign an open letter in support of transgender rights following the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
In response to a story that he wouldn't be axed from the new adaptation for his opposing views to the author, Rowling told followers on X: "I don't have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn't exercise it if I did.
"I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine."
The Harry Potter TV series is coming soon to Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Authors
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
