Katie Leung’s Journey: From Hogwarts to Bridgerton’s High Society

Katie Leung became a household name for many when she landed the part of Cho Chang, the first major love interest for the main character in the fourth instalment of the famous wizarding franchise. At just 16, Leung took on the role of the clever, reserved Ravenclaw who quickly caught the attention of the series’ lead during the Triwizard Tournament. She continued to appear throughout the remaining films, with her final appearance showing her character’s survival after the climactic battle.

Leung’s Time in the Wizarding World

Leung’s filmography in the magical saga includes several entries, each receiving strong reviews from critics. She first appeared in the 2005 release, followed by roles in the 2007 and 2009 films, and then in both parts of the grand finale, released in 2010 and 2011. Her character’s journey began as a romantic interest for both the protagonist and another key student, before developing a brief relationship with the main character in the fifth film.

Despite the excitement and opportunities that came with joining such a massive franchise, Leung’s experience wasn’t without its difficulties. The sudden fame brought her into the spotlight, but also exposed her to the less savoury side of fandom.

Facing Online Racism and Industry Pressures

While many embraced her as a new face in the series, Leung soon found herself the target of online abuse. She spoke candidly on a podcast about stumbling across fan sites filled with racist remarks about her background and looks. Some even went as far as creating a site where people could register their disapproval of her casting.

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.

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 industry, the negativity was tough to handle. She turned to her publicists for advice, only to be told to ignore the abuse and avoid speaking out about it. Years later, Leung reflected that focusing on her work and not engaging with the hate was the only way forward, even if it meant staying silent at the time.

New Horizons: From Magic to Regency Drama

Since her days at the wizarding school, Leung has steadily built a career across film, television, and theatre. She’s now set to appear in the much-anticipated fourth season of a popular period drama, taking on the role of Lady Araminta Gun. Her character, a twice-widowed woman with two daughters, is determined to see at least one of them married off, with one daughter eyeing a key member of the show’s central family.

The new season, currently filming in London, features a cast led by Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, with Leung joining a line-up of both returning and fresh faces. The show, created by Chris Van Dusen and Shonda Rhimes, has become a global hit, and Leung’s addition is set to bring a new dynamic to the story.

With this latest role, Leung steps confidently into a new chapter, leaving behind the shadows of her early career and embracing the opportunities that come with experience and resilience.