Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley in HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone TV series, has publicly criticised author J.K. Rowling's views on gender, saying she "strongly disagrees" with them. Speaking to The Telegraph, Powley stated that transgender people deserve safety, dignity and total acceptance, while stressing her enduring love for the Harry Potter books she grew up with. Her comments add her to a growing list of actors linked to the franchise who have distanced themselves from Rowling's stance on trans rights.

Rowling has been a vocal and controversial commentator on gender issues for several years, putting her at odds with prominent former Harry Potter film stars including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe. Powley's Petunia Dursley is Harry's aunt in the new series, which also features Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, among others. The show is set to premiere on Christmas Day on HBO and HBO Max, including in newly launched markets Germany, Italy, and the UK & Ireland.