British actress Bella Pauli, cast as Aunt Petunia Dursley in HBO's upcoming series adaptation of the Harry Potter books, has spoken out about the franchise author J.K. Rowling's views. In an interview with The Telegraph, the actress openly stated that she categorically does not share the writer's position on gender identity, reports infohub.kz.
Pauli emphasized that the transgender community deserves safety, respect, and full acceptance in society. The actress added that she grew up on the books about the young wizard, belongs to the first generation of readers, and continues to sincerely love this magical universe.
J.K. Rowling, who serves as executive producer on the new project, has repeatedly faced criticism for her public statements about biological sex. Previously, actors from the original film series, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, also disagreed with the writer's stance, while Ralph Fiennes came to her defense. The premiere of the first season is scheduled for the end of the year.