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Emma Watson is opening up for the first time about her six-month driving ban in the U.K., joking about how the incident unexpectedly became global news.
The Harry Potter alum, 35, appeared on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, where she discussed life after stepping back from acting and how her driving penalty has been a humbling experience. Watson, who hasn't appeared on screen since 2019's Little Women, revealed she has recently taken up cycling — a hobby that became especially useful once she was barred from driving.
"I started riding a bicycle before my driving ban," Watson said with a laugh. "But now it's particularly fortuitous that I also ride a bicycle for that reason."
Watson was fined £1,044 ($1,396) and banned from driving for six months in July after being caught speeding at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford. According to BBC News, she already had nine points on her license before the offense. The actress did not attend the five-minute hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court.
The news quickly went viral, which took Watson by surprise. "I was getting phone calls. It was on the BBC, international news, everywhere," she said. "My shame, it is worldwide!"
Watson explained that her lack of driving experience stems from her career. "When you work on movies, they literally won't insure you to drive yourself to work," she said. "You have to be driven because they need you there down to the minute. So I only drove on weekends or holidays. When I became a student at Oxford, suddenly I was driving myself everywhere, and clearly, I didn't have the skills."
The actress said the situation reflects a bigger transition in her life. "On set, I can do complex stunts, sing, dance, but then at home, I'm like, 'Emma, you can't even remember your keys or keep to the speed limit,'" she joked.
Watson added that many people have since reached out with their own driving mishaps. "It's been really endearing," she said. "This whole thing has been humbling but also a reminder that I'm still learning basic life skills."
The star, who was cast as Hermione Granger at age 9, said the experience has taught her to laugh at herself while navigating life beyond the spotlight.
