Scottish actress Katie Leung is winning hearts again, but this time as a villain. The 38-year-old star, whom global audiences first met as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films, is now part of the Netflix phenomenon Bridgerton. In Season 4, she plays the intimidating Lady Araminta Gun, the cruel stepmother to Sophie Baek. And Leung is being very open about one thing: being on the set of Bridgerton feels much better than her time at Hogwarts ever did.
Leung was just 16 years old when she was cast in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Overnight, she went from a regular teenager in Scotland to a star in the biggest film franchise in the world. Now, over 20 years later, she is stepping back into the spotlight with another massive global hit. But this time, she says, things are completely different because she finally knows who she is .
From Teenage Uncertainty to Adult Confidence
In recent interviews promoting Bridgerton Season 4, Katie Leung has reflected deeply on her past and present. She admits that her teenage years in the wizarding world were overwhelming. She was young, shy, and still trying to figure out her place in the world. The sudden fame, the media attention, and the public scrutiny were hard to handle.
“I was so young at the time, and I was so easily influenced by what people would say about me, because I didn’t know who I was,” Leung told Entertainment Tonight . She explained that she was very aware of what others thought, and it affected her. She often tried to people-please, which made things “a bit messy” .
Now, entering the world of the Ton, she feels the opposite. “Now I feel like I know who I am. I know what I want. I know my boundaries,” she shared . This self-awareness has allowed her to protect herself and focus on what truly matters: the work. “I’ve come into Bridgerton like just having a really healthy focus on the work and making great connections with the people that are on the same page,” she added. “So glad I’m here. I would not want to go back to that time” .
This feeling of belonging is a first for her. Despite being on large sets since Harry Potter, she admits she was never playing a role as significant as Araminta. The nerves about whether she was “good enough” used to take over. “I think this was one of the first times I felt I belonged, on the set of Bridgerton,” she confessed to The Scotsman .
Why Playing a Villain Is ‘Liberating’
In Bridgerton Season 4, Katie Leung portrays Lady Araminta Gun, the sharp-tongued mother of Rosamund (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei). Based on Julia Quinn’s book An Offer from a Gentleman, the season reimagines the Cinderella story. Araminta is the wicked stepmother who treats her ward, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), like a maid .
For Leung, stepping into the shoes of a villain has been a joy. “It’s every actor’s dream to play a villain,” she said . She explained that because Araminta has bad intentions, she felt no pressure to make the character likable. “That was a weight off my shoulders when I was performing. So it’s just been a great joy and quite liberating” .
However, Leung also brings depth to the role. She doesn’t see Araminta as purely evil. In a deep dive with Vulture, she pointed out that Araminta is a product of her time . As a woman in the Regency era, her choices were limited. She has been widowed twice and is fighting to secure her daughters’ futures in a world that values male heirs above all else.
“No one talks about the Earl of Penwood being an asshole,” Leung pointed out, referring to Sophie’s father who had a child out of wedlock without telling his wife. “It’s like, ‘God, Araminta is evil.’ But I’m like, ‘Hello?!’” .
Leung, who is a mother to a three-year-old son, also drew on her own life experiences to understand Araminta. “Her motivation is motherhood,” she explained . “As a mother myself, it’s an inexplicable need to ensure that your children live their best life. You’ll do anything so that they’re happy and content” .
A Difficult Past in the ‘Harry Potter’ Spotlight
The contrast between Leung’s two biggest roles is stark, and it goes beyond the characters. Her experience with the Harry Potter franchise was complicated. While it launched her career, it also exposed her to intense racism and online harassment at a very young age.
When she was cast as Cho Chang, a specific brand of vitriol greeted her. Some fans created websites with “disagreement” counters to signal their disapproval of her casting . When she searched for herself online, she found forums filled with racist comments. When she approached the publicity team, she was reportedly told to deny it. “I remember them saying to me, ‘Oh, look, Katie, we haven’t seen these…If you get asked, just say it’s not true. Say it’s not happening,’” she recalled in a podcast interview . She was essentially instructed to pretend the abuse wasn’t happening.
Beyond the racism, the character of Cho Chang itself was often criticized for being a superficial representation of East Asian identity, with a name that paired two common surnames . The character was also frequently seen crying, which made her a target for ridicule. Fans often transferred their annoyance with the character onto Leung herself .
Even the more romantic moments on screen left her with regrets. She revealed to People that she has trouble watching the films because she is so judgmental of herself. Her specific regret? Her haircut during the famous kissing scene with Daniel Radcliffe. “I wish I never cut my hair the way I did. I had this horrific haircut. You grow as an actor and you change your choices. That’s partly why I can’t watch them” .
What Katie Leung Brings to ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4
Leung’s portrayal of Lady Araminta is already being praised as one of the most compelling parts of the new season. Her character is known for her gothic fashion—always dressed in black—and her piercing gaze. During her audition, the producers even encouraged her to evoke Anna Wintour, the famous editor of Vogue . While she let go of that specific inspiration to avoid feeling restricted, she kept one key trait: impenetrability. “Araminta does have eyes! Eyes that, like, could kill,” she joked to Vulture .
The costumes played a huge part in helping her find the character. Despite usually living in sweatpons and “joggies,” wearing the elaborate Regency gowns transformed her. “The minute I was dressed fully, I was 80 percent there,” she said . “I definitely had the best costumes out of everybody” .
One of the most talked-about moments in Part Two of the season involves Araminta and her daughters speaking Cantonese. This was a deliberate choice by showrunner Jess Brownell to honor Leung’s heritage . Leung appreciated the collaboration, working with translators to ensure the phrases were authentic to her upbringing.
Katie Leung also spoke highly of her co-stars, particularly Yerin Ha (Sophie). “She made me want to try harder,” Leung admitted . She described their scenes together as a “constant dance,” where they pushed each other to deliver better performances.
Advice for the Next Cho Chang
With HBO developing a Harry Potter television series, a new actress will eventually be cast to play Cho Chang. When asked if she would send a letter to her successor, as Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint did for the new Harry and Ron, Leung had a thoughtful response.
“I don’t know,” she told TheWrap. “I don’t want to underestimate her holding her own. If she came to me for advice, then I would be very happy to give it” . Her main piece of wisdom for the young actress would be simple: have fun. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I hope she remembers to have fun” .
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Where to Watch ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4
Bridgerton Season 4 is streaming now on Netflix. The season was split into two parts. Part one, consisting of four episodes, debuted on January 29, 2026. Part two, the final four episodes, arrived on February 26, 2026.
Global audiences can watch the new season on Netflix in the following regions:
- USA: Available now on Netflix
- UK: Available now on Netflix
- Canada: Available now on Netflix
- Australia: Available now on Netflix
- India: Available now on Netflix
The new season focuses on the love story of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). Katie Leung joins the cast as a series regular, bringing her experience and newfound confidence to the hit show.
For fans who remember her as the quiet Ravenclaw student, seeing her command the screen as the formidable Lady Araminta is a revelation. It is clear that Katie Leung has not just survived her early fame; she has grown into an actress who knows her worth and is finally enjoying the ride.
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