Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes has waded into the ongoing debate surrounding JK Rowling's views on gender identity, criticising the transgender community's reaction whilst disagreeing with the author's stance.
The 84-year-old, who portrayed Professor Sprout in the wizarding films, said: "I don't agree with her about the trans issue. I think her opinion is too harsh but I don't like the fact that the trans community has reacted with such fury."
"It's not good to be so furious. We should be gentle with each other. We're all oppressed by sections of the community."
Speaking on the A Gay Old Time podcast, she concluded: "Let's just be kinder."
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|Miriam Margolyes shared her thoughts on both sides of the debate as she called for less fury towards Rowling
The actress, who is gay and an outspoken LGBTQ rights advocate, revealed she has never met Rowling or discussed the matter with her directly.
She acknowledged that whilst she supports trans people, whom she described as "absolutely adorable, gorgeous and brave," she understands concerns about women-only spaces.
"Women get scared if they're in a situation where somebody with a penis could rape them, whether they're straight or gay or whatever," she stated.
"And I think it's a bit unrealistic of blokes who are on the journey from one side to the other not to realise that."
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|JK Rowling has faced a huge backlash for her views on the trans debate
The actress also addressed trans participation in women's sport, saying: "I don't think that people who have a man's body should be playing sports with people who have a woman's body. I just don't think it's fair. There should be another category."
Despite these views, Margolyes maintained her support for trans rights and called for greater understanding between all parties.
The Harry Potter cast remains divided over Rowling's position, with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint having publicly distanced themselves from the author.
Radcliffe stated in 2020 that "transgender women are women" and revealed in 2024 he had not spoken to Rowling in years. Watson and Grint have also expressed support for trans rights.
In April, Rowling declared she would never forgive the younger stars, stating: "Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."
However, Tom Felton has maintained his support for Rowling, with the Draco Malfoy actor recently saying: "I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that."
Margolyes rejected binary thinking in the debate, stating: "We're not binary. We're not two boxes.
"There should be many more boxes and we can pop ourselves into them if we want or not.
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|Miriam Margolyes argued she doesn't like how 'the trans community has reacted with such fury'
But we shouldn't be nasty to people who don't fit in the same box as us."
The actress expressed regret that Rowling has been "so fiercely vocal" on the subject, adding: "I really just feel supportive about this tiny group of people who are trans, and if they want me to use pronouns, I think it's the right thing to do. If you can make people happy, do it."
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PA | JK Rowling came under fire for her views in recent years
She emphasised her intolerance for bullying in any form, declaring: "That's one thing I will not have - being bullied.
"We've got to nourish love. There's not a lot of love about, which is a pity."