The Black Actress Playing Hermione Has the Best Comeback to Racist Critics

New Hermione actress Noma Dumezweni responds to racist critics. (Photo: Getty/Warner Bros. Pictures)

By Megan Friedman

Hermione would definitely approve.

The beloved characters of the Harry Potter world are hitting the stage this summer in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but with two major differences. First of all, the Hogwarts BFFs are now adults with children of their own. And second of all, as opposed to the film’s casting, the actress playing Hermione Granger is black.

British actress Noma Dumezweni has been cast as the brave and studious heroine, and both J.K. Rowling and Emma Watson have provided enthusiastic tweets of approval. But despite the fact that Hermione’s race is never mentioned in Rowling’s books (just her brown eyes and frizzy hair), some fans were not cool with changing their own visions of Hermione.

Dumezweni has no patience for people like that. In an interview with the Evening Standard, she said she has dealt with “unconscious” racism throughout her career, so it’s sadly nothing new. “It stems from ignorance,” she said. “They don’t want to be a part of the creative act. To say it’s not as it was intended is so unimaginative. I don’t think they understand how theater works. We’re here to heal you, make you smile and whisk you away.”

She has a powerful message to anyone who even questioned her casting in the first place: Who cares about race, anyway? “The only question we should ask is ‘Are they good?’” she said. “I’ve met great actors black and white and I’ve met bad actors black and white.” And since Dumezweni is an award-winning actress who knows Shakespeare better than nearly anyone, there’s no question how she’ll handle Hermione.