‘Harry Potter’ Actress Katie Leung Opens Up About Racist Vitriol Experienced In Her Time With Franchise, Being Told By Publicists To Deny It

Harry Potter actress Katie Leung has offered fresh perspective on the racism she experienced as part of the landmark franchise, emphasizing the way in which she was silenced while doing press for the films.

In a recent episode of the Chinese Chippy Girl podcast, Leung recalled the backlash and online vitriol among some Potter fans following the announcement of her casting at age 16 as Hogwarts witch Cho Chang in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

More from Deadline

• With Hate Crimes Rising, WGA’s Asian American Writers Committee Urges Hollywood To Address Its Long History Of Stereotyping That “Exacerbate Racist” Sentiments

• 'Harry Potter': Casey Bloys Discusses Potential HBO Max TV Spinoff Series For Wizard Franchise

• 'Harry Potter' TV Series Eyed At HBO Max

“I was, like, googling myself at one point, and I was on this website, which was kind of dedicated to the kind of Harry Potter fandom,” she said. “I remember reading all the comments. And, yeah, it was a lot of racist sh*t.”

A Scottish native of Chinese descent who appeared in each of the three Potter films that followed, Leung said that she didn’t receive media training prior to engaging in interviews as a cast member. When she consulted with publicists about the racist comments she was subject to online, her concerns were dismissed.

“I remember them saying to me, ‘Oh, look Katie, we haven’t seen these, these websites that people are talking about,’” said the actress, now 33. “And you know, if you get asked that just say it’s not true, say it’s not happening.’”

Leung didn’t clarify whether the publicists in question were working for her directly, or attached to the franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. The studio did not immediately respond to Deadline’s request for comment.

In any case, it’s clear that some fan reaction soured her experience with the films. “I was really very f*cking grateful that I was in the position I was in,” she said, of being cast. “But then, yeah… it wasn’t great.”

Leung’s comments on the podcast weren’t her first calling out her mistreatment. Back in 2016, in an interview with The Herald, she also addressed the attacks of Potter fans, saying that she was “in denial,” while working on the films about what was happening.

“Looking back…I put it to the back of my mind,” Leung said. “I don’t know if that is the best way to deal with it, but that is naturally what I did in order to move on and be a good actor.”

Best of Deadline

• U.S. Covid-19 Update: CDC Director Warns Case Declines May Be Leveling Off At "Still A Very High Number'

• Coronavirus: Movies That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid Outbreak

• Hong Kong Filmart Postponed Due To Coronavirus Fears; Event Moves Two Weeks Before Toronto

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.