Cho Chang Star Opens Up About Harry Potter Fame's Dark Side
Katie Leung shares how playing Cho Chang brought unexpected challenges, from racist online attacks to career struggles that lasted years after the wizarding world spotlight faded.
Landing a role as Harry Potter's romantic interest should feel like winning the lottery for any young actress. Katie Leung discovered the reality was far more complicated when she stepped into Cho Chang's shoes at just 18 years old.
The actress, who first appeared in 2005's Goblet of Fire, recently opened up about the overwhelming experience of sudden stardom. Speaking candidly, she admitted the transition proved brutal from day one.
The Weight of Instant Fame
"I don't think I did," Leung said when asked how she handled the spotlight. "It was overwhelming from the get-go. Being in the spotlight from that age, when you're already insecure, was difficult, to say the least."
At the time, acting felt like an escape from school life she despised. The fun masked deeper issues brewing beneath the surface. "I'm still trying to figure it out, really, how it affected me," she reflected.
Discovering Online Hatred
Curiosity led Leung down a dark path. She began searching her own name online, uncovering waves of racist comments targeting her Chinese background. The 38-year-old actress described simply absorbing the hatred rather than processing it properly.
"I think it just sat with me, and it affected me in ways like, 'Oh yeah, I made that decision because people were saying this about me.' It probably made me less outgoing. I was very self-aware of what was coming out of my mouth."
The franchise's massive success created another problem. Everything felt small afterward. "I remember coming out of it and thinking, 'Nothing's going to beat it,' because it was so successful," Leung explained.
Career Paralysis and Fear
High expectations became a prison. Leung found herself afraid to even try matching her early success. "I think I was so afraid of meeting these expectations that I gave up, or didn't give myself the chance, after it, to try and continue acting."
She's not alone among Potter alumni struggling with the aftermath. Emma Watson recently shared her own complicated relationship with fame, describing herself as "maybe the happiest and healthiest" she's ever been since stepping back.
"I think what's interesting about being an actor is, there's a tendency to sort of fracture yourself into multiple personalities," Watson explained. "I do not miss selling things. I found that to be quite soul-destroying."