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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Sian Cain

John Lithgow says he finds JK Rowling’s stance on trans rights ‘ironic and inexplicable’

JK Rowling John Lithgow Harry Potter Albus Dumbledore HBO Paapa Essiedu
John Lithgow at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
John Lithgow at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 2025. The actor, who is playing Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter series, has said he finds JK Rowling’s views on trans rights ‘ironic and somewhat inexplicable’. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

John Lithgow has called JK Rowling’s views on transgender rights “ironic and inexplicable”, saying that backlash to his decision to play Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series “upsets me”.

Speaking on stage at Rotterdam film festival after a screening of his latest film, Jimpa, the 80-year-old actor was asked about how he felt about Rowling’s views. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the upcoming series, which is being produced by HBO and will be one of the most expensively produced television shows of all time.

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