Katie Leung became a familiar face to millions of fans when she stepped into the role of Cho Chang, Harry Potter’s first love interest, in Mike Newell’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. She initially starred as Harry’s crush and Cedric Diggory’s first girlfriend, until Order of the Phoenix, when Cho and Harry developed a brief relationship. 

And turns out, when Leung was hired for the role, she was only 16 years old, appearing as the shy, smart Ravenclaw who captures Harry’s attention during the Triwizard Tournament. Later, she appeared in the rest of the Harry Potter films, ending her role with a brief scene in the Great Hall, post-war, showing fans that she made it out alive. 

The table contains every Harry Potter movie that Katie Leung starred in:

Katie Leung’s Harry Potter Films Year of Release Rotten Tomatoes ScoreHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire200588%Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix200778%Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince200983%Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1201076%Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1201196%

Rising With Harry Potter, Katie Leung Endured Online Racism 

Now, while the Harry Potter fame brought her instant attention in Hollywood, leading Katie Leung to secure more roles in films and shows, it also came with an unnerving dose of online racism. While millions of fans embraced her as Harry’s first love interest, Leung soon discovered that not everyone welcomed her casting with kindness. 

During an appearance on the Chinese Chippy Girl podcast, the actress shared how she accidentally came across fan sites filled with racist comments targeting her appearance and background. Leung revealed that some fans even created a hate site where people could “vote” against her being part of the films. 

I was, like, Googling myself at one point, and I was on this website, which was kind of dedicated to the kind of ‘Harry Potter’ fandom. I remember reading all the comments. And, yeah, it was a lot of racist sh*t. 

Somebody had actually created a website, a hate site. It was like, if you disagree with this casting, click on this button, and it was like a count of who disagreed with the casting. It’s so awful.

As a teenager new to fame, Katie Leung found this deeply upsetting. Naturally, she approached her publicists about the online racism. That’s when she got the golden advice on how she mustn’t indulge in it, and neither should she speak publicly about the racism she was facing. Basically, her team advised her to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to public opinion. 

From Hogwarts to High Society, the Star Ascends in Bridgerton S4

Eventually, as she followed through the instructions at the time, Katie Leung gradually realized that her publicists were right. Years later, in 2016, Leung thus confided in The Herald that the only way to deal with racism and abuse she received from Harry Potter fans was to ignore it and simply focus on her career. 

Katie Leung in Bridgerton | image: Netflix

Today, Katie Leung stands far beyond the struggles she once faced. Over the years, she has built a strong acting career in films, television, and theater, slowly stepping out of the shadow of her early Potter fame. And now, she is set to join one of Netflix’s biggest, globally renowned shows, Bridgerton Season 4 (via People). 

Netflix confirmed that the upcoming season of Bridgerton has officially begun filming in London, with Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha leading the story as Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek. Alongside them, several new characters are joining the aristocratic Ton, including Katie Leung in a major new role. 

Leung will play Lady Araminta Gun, a twice-married and twice-widowed woman entering society with her two daughters, Rosamund and Posy Li. Lady Araminta is determined to see at least one daughter married this season, especially as Rosamund begins to set her sights on Benedict Bridgerton himself. 

The table contains basic details on Bridgerton:

TV Show BridgertonCreator Chris Van Dusen, Shonda RhimesCastNicola Coughlan, Luke Thompson, Claudia Jessie, Ruth Gemmell, Simone Ashley, Jonathan BaileyRotten Tomatoes Score84%Number of Seasons 4

So, with this powerful, elegant role, Katie Leung steps into a new chapter, one filled with high society, romance, and the confidence she has earned after years of overcoming adversity.

Let us know your expectations of Katie Leung’s character in Bridgerton Season 4. 

Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix. Harry Potter films are streaming on HBO Max. 
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire