J.K. Rowling Shuts Down Critics of Actress Set to Play Hermione in Stage Production: "White Skin Was Never Specified"

Famous children's series author responds to haters of the woman cast as lead female character

If there was any misunderstanding about Hermione Granger's appearance, J.K. Rowling is setting the record straight—she loves a black Hermione. 

The 50-year-old acclaimed author of the Harry Potter series would not stand for any intolerance when it came to the casting for the upcoming stage production of a Potter-based play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Inspired by one of Rowling's original stories, the play features the trio of beloved wizards set 19 years into the future and will debut on the London stage this summer.

While fans are endlessly hungry for any addition to the classic storyline, some were not as thrilled to find out that the woman set to play Granger is British actress Noma Dumezweni, a South-African born award-winning British actress. Specifically, some complained her skin tone did not match the films' depiction. Rowling defended the choice by simply revisiting her famous text. 

"Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione," the author wrote on Twitter. 

She expressed her elation even further on her Pottermore website, stating, "I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer."

Dumezweni will join Jamie Parker in the role of the boy who lived, Harry Potter, and Paul Thornley as the third member of the magical crew, Ron Weasley. 

Despite Rowling's clear cut acceptance, Dumezweni was startled by the response to the announcement, also taking to Twitter to air her surprise. 

"Um... So. Just seen my feed BLOW UP... What's THAT about?!," she wrote on her account. 

Still, there were equally as many fans who were more than pleased with the selection. 

"As a black girl who identified with Hermione soooo much growing up, thank you @jk_rowling," one fan wrote on Twitter. Twelve year old me is crying happy tears."

"Interesting that some people find a black Hermione Granger harder to believe in than, you know, magic spells..." another fan shared. 

The play is set for debut on June 30, 2016 at the Palace Theater in London.