When “Bridgerton” returned with its fourth season, the series introduced several new Asian characters to its expanding world. Among them, Araminta – played by Katie Leung – quickly stood out. While many viewers still remember her from her early appearance in the “Harry Potter” films, the Scottish actress of Hong Kong heritage has since built a diverse career across television, film and theatre. Here are five things to know about her journey and work
She delivers a Cantonese line in Bridgerton Season 4
Appearing as Araminta – the primary antagonist and wicked stepmother figure in Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 4 – Katie Leung joins the platform’s popular, record-breaking romantic drama. In one brief but memorable moment, she even delivers a line in Cantonese on screen. It’s a small detail, but one that quickly caught viewers’ attention – particularly among Asian audiences – as it reflects her Hong Kong heritage while adding another cultural layer to the Regency-era world of the show.
She’s Scottish, but has strong Hong Kong roots
Although many Hong Kong audiences feel a natural connection to her, Katie Leung was born in Dundee, Scotland, in August 1987 to parents from Hong Kong. After her parents separated, she grew up in Scotland with her father while her mother returned to Hong Kong. Still, the city remained an important part of her childhood, and she visited frequently during school holidays. In an interview with The Herald Scotland, she even described Hong Kong as “bustling, with so much culture” and “a great place to party.”
She made her acting debut in Harry Potter
Leung’s acting career began when she was cast as Cho Chang in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, based on the bestselling series by J. K. Rowling. The audition happened almost by chance – her father encouraged her to attend an open casting call, even though she reportedly wanted to leave after seeing the huge queue of applicants. Instead, she stayed and ultimately beat more than 5,000 hopefuls to land the role. However, in a recent interview, Leung has reflected that while the films launched her career, the intense attention and racism she faced from some fans made that period a complicated one to look back on.
She later went back to drama school
After the Harry Potter films ended, Leung briefly questioned whether she wanted to continue acting. Rather than stepping away, she chose to refine her craft by studying drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The training helped her move beyond the image of a young franchise star and explore a wider range of roles. It also led her into theatre work, including productions such as Wild Swans and later performances at London’s National Theatre.
Her career now spans TV, film and voice acting
In the years since, Leung has built a diverse résumé across television, film and voice acting. She has appeared in UK series such as The Nest, Annika and The Wheel of Time. On the film side, she starred in The Foreigner alongside Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. She has also reached a new generation of audiences through voice acting, portraying Caitlyn Kiramman in Netflix’s animated hit Arcane, which is set in the universe of the globally popular game League of Legends.
