Emma Watson supports ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ star Noma Dumezweni

Emma Watson is set to play Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and will not reprise her role as Hermoine Granger in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” On the other hand, she is supportive of Noma Dumezweni who will portray the character in the upcoming stage play.

J.K. Rowling developed the story of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” along with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. When Dumezweni’s casting was announced, Rowling voiced her support for the Swaziland-born actress considering that a character originally played by a white actress was given to a black actress.

Neither Daniel Radcliffe nor Rupert Grint was casted in the “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” stage play as well. Harry Potter will be played by Jamie Parker while Ron Weasley will be played by Paul Thornley.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” performances will start on June 7 in London. Prior to the stage play, Dumezweni replaced “Sex and the City” alum Kim Cattrall in “Linda” and will be at the Royal Court, London until Jan. 9.

In an interview with Independent, Dumezweni revealed that she was terrified when she was asked to play the title role in “Linda” a week before its opening. She added that she did not have any rehearsal but she had to “honour the play and be in the moment.”

Dumezweni also told The Guardian she appreciates the fact that she was asked to do the title role in “Linda” because of her ability and her being black was not mentioned. She said she is very proud that she is finally being acknowledged as a great theatre actor and a great supporting actor.

Before Dumezweni was casted in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” Watson played Hermoine Granger in nine films. The first one was the 2001 film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and the last one was the 2011 film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

Watson is set to star in James Ponsoldt’s sci-fi thriller film “The Thriller” opposite John Boyega and Tom Hanks. In “Beauty and the Beast,” her co-stars are Ewan McGregor, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Luke Evans, Emma Thompson and Ian McKellen, among others.