Katie Leung’s Journey: From Harry Potter’s First Love to Bridgerton

Katie Leung became a household name for millions when she landed the role of Cho Chang, the first romantic interest of the series’ main character in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. At just 16, she portrayed the reserved and intelligent Ravenclaw who caught the attention of the young wizard during the Triwizard Tournament. Her character’s story continued through the next films, including a brief romance in Order of the Phoenix, and concluded with a fleeting but memorable appearance in the final installment, showing she survived the epic battle.

Stepping Into the Wizarding World

Leung’s journey in the magical franchise began with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005, followed by appearances in Order of the Phoenix (2007), Half-Blood Prince (2009), and both parts of Deathly Hallows (2010 and 2011). Each film received strong critical acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes scores ranging from 76% to 96%. Her portrayal of Cho Chang, who was both Harry’s crush and Cedric Diggory’s girlfriend, made her a recognizable face among fans worldwide.

But the sudden fame also brought unexpected challenges. While many embraced her as a new addition to the beloved cast, Leung soon encountered a darker side of fandom. She stumbled upon online forums and fan sites filled with hateful comments about her background and appearance. Some even went as far as creating a website where people could vote against her casting.

Facing Online Hate and Finding Strength

During an interview on the Chinese Chippy Girl podcast, Leung opened up about the racism she faced online. She recalled,

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.

She also shared,

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 the spotlight, these experiences were deeply upsetting. Leung turned to her publicists for advice, only to be told to ignore the negativity and avoid speaking out about the racism she was experiencing. Years later, she reflected that focusing on her career and not engaging with the hate was the best way forward, as she shared in a 2016 interview with The Herald.

New Horizons: Joining the World of Bridgerton

Over time, Leung built a solid career in film, television, and theater, gradually stepping out from under the shadow of her early fame. Now, she’s set to take on a major new role in the fourth season of one of Netflix ’s most popular series. The upcoming season, currently filming in London, will see her join the cast alongside Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, who lead the story as Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek.

Leung will portray Lady Araminta Gun, a twice-widowed woman entering high society with her two daughters, Rosamund and Posy Li. Determined to secure a match for at least one of her daughters, Lady Araminta’s ambitions put her at the center of the season’s drama, especially as Rosamund sets her sights on Benedict Bridgerton.

The show, created by Chris Van Dusen and Shonda Rhimes, features a star-studded cast and has earned an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. With four seasons and a global fanbase, the series offers Leung a fresh stage to showcase her talent and resilience.

With this new chapter, Leung steps confidently into a world of romance, intrigue, and high society, bringing with her the strength she’s gained from overcoming adversity.