Michelle Gomez has issued a statement in response to criticism following her casting in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, produced by Pottermore Publishing and Audible.
The Scottish actor, known for Doctor Who, will voice Professor McGonagall in the new recordings of J.K. Rowling’s seven original books.
The announcement has drawn backlash online due to ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling’s public comments on transgender issues.
Posting on Instagram, Gomez addressed “my LGBTQ+ fans, and especially the trans community,” stating: “I hear you, and I understand why this is painful for many. I want to be clear that I stand with trans people, and I support trans rights — fully and without hesitation.”
She explained that she accepted the role as someone who had “always loved the stories and what they meant to so many, especially those who found comfort and identity in that world.”
She added that she now understood “how deeply complicated and hurtful this association can feel,” and emphasised her commitment to listening and taking accountability.
The series will feature over 200 actors, with Hugh Laurie voicing Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, and Cush Jumbo as narrator. Two sets of younger and older actors will portray Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger across the seven books.
The first audiobook, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, will be released on November 4 2025, with subsequent titles arriving monthly.
Other cast members have also addressed the controversy. Nick Frost, playing Rubeus Hagrid, told The Observer: “She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.”
The full cast list will be revealed in the coming months as production continues.
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