Harry Potter cast member Bel Powley "strongly disagrees" with Rowling on gender

Bel Powley, cast as Petunia Dursley in HBO's Harry Potter series, told The Telegraph on 10 August 2026 she "strongly disagrees" with executive producer J.K. Rowling's views on gender. Powley said the trans community "deserve safety, dignity, respect and total acceptance." John Lithgow, who plays Dumbledore, separately said he considered leaving the series over the same controversy but stayed. Season one premieres Christmas 2026.