Katie Leung Harry Potter Racist Bullying: From Hogwarts Trauma to Bridgerton Season 4

The magic of Hogwarts couldn't shield her from the harsh reality of the internet. Katie Leung, who played the iconic Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise, is opening up about the traumatic racist bullying she endured after being cast as the wizard's first love interest. Now looking back, the actor reflects on how those early scars shaped her career and her outlook on the industry today.

The Dark Side of Magic: Katie Leung Harry Potter Racist Bullying Experience

Now 38 years old, Leung made her cinematic debut in 2005's 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' At just 16, she found herself at the center of a media firestorm when her casting news leaked. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she recalled how her curiosity led her to Google herself, only to be met with a barrage of hateful and racist comments. "I was very self-aware of what was coming out of my mouth... It probably made me less outgoing," she admitted, noting she often tried to overcompensate for the backlash.

Surprisingly, Leung revealed she only auditioned in hopes of bringing her divorced parents back together, much like a real-life 'Parent Trap.' While the role didn't reunite her family as she'd dreamed, it launched her into a world of fame that felt like an escape from her difficult school years, albeit one that came with a heavy psychological price.

A New Chapter in Bridgerton Season 4

Leung is now set to grace screens again in Netflix's massive hit Bridgerton Season 4, premiering Jan. 29. She plays Lady Araminta Gun, the cold stepmother to Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha. For Leung, the environment on the Bridgerton set feels worlds away from her early days, thanks to the show's groundbreaking 'color-conscious' casting.

She praised creator Shonda Rhimes for fostering a diverse environment where she feels safe to "play" as an actor. Now a mother, Leung views her craft with a healthy distance. While she still cares deeply about her work, she no longer lets it define her entire existence—a hard-won perspective gained from surviving the turbulent waters of early fame.