The moment HBO announced its Harry Potter TV series, the internet exploded with one burning question: Who’s playing Hermione? Enter Arabella Stanton, the 11-year-old British stage sensation who just landed the role of a lifetime—and instantly became the center of a fiery debate about race, representation, and the legacy of the Wizarding World.
While fans dissect her West End résumé (Matilda the Musical, Starlight Express) and parse every pixel of her few public photos, the conversation has spiraled far beyond her acting chops. Is she Black? Mixed-race? Does it even matter? The answer is tangled in fandom’s obsession with “authenticity,” J.K. Rowling’s polarizing legacy, and the weight of stepping into a role that defined a generation. Here’s what we know—and why the noise around her casting reveals more about us than it does about her.
Who Is Arabella Stanton?
Arabella Stanton is Hermione Granger in HBOʼs #HarryPotter series. pic.twitter.com/D0i8jncKAi
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) May 27, 2025
Arabella Stanton is the fresh-faced British actress who just landed the role of a lifetime—playing Hermione Granger in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. At just 11 years old (or thereabouts), she’s stepping into shoes previously filled by Emma Watson, and the internet is obsessed. But here’s the thing: most of the chatter isn’t about her acting chops (though she’s got plenty—more on that later). Instead, people are zeroing in on her ethnicity, race, and whether she’s Black. Why? Because Hermione Granger’s casting has always been a lightning rod for discourse, and Arabella’s arrival is no exception.
Let’s rewind. Arabella isn’t a complete unknown. Before she was cast as the brilliant witch with a penchant for levitating feathers, she played Matilda in Matilda the Musical on London’s West End. She’s also appeared in Starlight Express and has trained at places like the British Theatre Academy and Guildford School of Acting. In other words, she’s a seasoned stage kid with serious talent. But none of that seems to matter as much as the fact that her name—Arabella Stanton—doesn’t immediately signal a specific ethnicity, and her appearance (from the limited photos available) has sparked debates about whether she’s white, mixed-race, brown, Indian, or something else entirely.
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The Ethnicity Debate: Why It’s Complicated
Here’s where things get messy. J.K. Rowling once said Hermione’s race was never specified in the books, and the character was played by a Black actress (Noma Dumezweni) in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. So, theoretically, Hermione could be Black. But when Arabella’s casting was announced, the internet did what it does best: overanalyzed every pixel of her photo, dissected her name (Arabella = Greek? Stanton = English?), and launched into a frenzy of speculation.
Some folks are thrilled at the possibility of a non-white Hermione, seeing it as a win for diversity. Others are… less enthusiastic, clinging to the idea of Hermione as white (despite Rowling’s comments). And then there are those who just wish everyone would shut up and let a kid act without reducing her to a racial checkbox. Because here’s the kicker: Arabella’s actual ethnicity hasn’t been confirmed. HBO and the casting team haven’t said a word about it, and honestly, they shouldn’t have to. The open casting call emphasized inclusivity, explicitly stating that roles were open to all kids regardless of ethnicity or gender identity.
The main trio has been cast for the ‘HARRY POTTER’ TV series:
• Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
• Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger
• Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley pic.twitter.com/b96bzMCTS5— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 27, 2025
But let’s be real: this isn’t just about Hermione. It’s about the broader tension surrounding the Harry Potter franchise. Rowling’s controversial views on trans rights have made the series a battleground for culture wars, and the casting of a new Hermione—especially one who might not be white—has become a proxy fight. Some fans are already dreading the inevitable online bullying Arabella could face, whether from racists mad about a potential non-white Hermione or from activists who’ll pressure her to disavow Rowling.
As for Arabella’s parents? No info. They’ve kept a low profile, which is probably for the best. The last thing this kid needs is her family’s background becoming tabloid fodder. What we do know is that she’s got a solid support system—her agents are Gavin Mills and Julie Gordon at Olivia Bell, and she’s repped by Public Eye.
The Bigger Picture
At the end of the day, Arabella Stanton is a child who just won the role of her dreams. She shouldn’t have to bear the weight of fandom’s baggage, Rowling’s controversies, or the internet’s obsession with labeling her. Yes, representation matters, and yes, it’s valid to discuss how Hermione’s race impacts the story. But reducing Arabella to a talking point about diversity—or worse, subjecting her to toxic scrutiny—is unfair.
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The Harry Potter series is set to run for at least a decade, and Arabella will grow up on screen, just like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint did. Here’s hoping the world gives her the space to do that without turning her into a hashtag. After all, she’s not just “the new Hermione”—she’s a kid with a bright future, and she deserves to enjoy it.
So, is Arabella Stanton Black, Brown, or Indian? Maybe, maybe not. But here’s a radical idea: maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe what matters is that she’s a talented actress who nailed the audition, and that’s enough.
