LONDON: Actor Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise, has opened up about the “overwhelming” racist bullying she experienced as a teenager following her casting. Leung, now 38, shared these reflections ahead of her upcoming role in Season 4 of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.
The “Harry Potter” Experience
Leung was 16 when she was cast as the love interest for Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). While she enjoyed the escape from school, the online response was far from magical.
- Online Harassment: After news of her casting leaked, Leung was met with racist, hateful comments on fan forums.
- Internalized Trauma: Leung admitted she didn’t know how to cope at the time and would often “Google herself” to see what was being said. “It probably made me less outgoing,” she told The Guardian. “I was very self-aware of what was coming out of my mouth.”
- The “Parent Trap” Motivation: Interestingly, Leung revealed she only went to the open audition in hopes that it might bring her divorced parents back together, thinking she had no real chance of landing the role.
A New Chapter in “Bridgerton”
Leung is set to star in Bridgerton Season 4, premiering on January 29, 2026. She will portray Lady Araminta Gun, a “cold and scheming” aristocrat and stepmother to Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
- Color-Conscious Casting: Leung praised the show’s inclusive environment, noting that the diversity both in front of and behind the camera made her feel “safe” as an actor.
- A Different Perspective: Now a mother herself, Leung says her outlook on the industry has shifted. “I still care about the craft… but I can park it once I’m done for the day and go home and live this other life,” she explained.
Upcoming Projects
Fans can see Katie Leung return to the spotlight in the Regency-era romance later this month, where she joins a cast that continues to prioritize representation—something Leung says she is “envious” of for the younger generation.
