Hands down Molly Weasley is one of the most iconic parents in the Wizarding World—we’re talking sweater-knitting, spell-slinging, “Not my daughter, you b*tch!” levels of legendary. And while Julie Walters will always be the OG queen of The Burrow, there’s a new Mrs. Weasley in town for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot. And this one’s got a BAFTA nod to back her up!
Welcome, Katherine Parkinson, the queen of quirky British comedy, who’s currently bewitching audiences in the sizzling new series Rivals. With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2025 BAFTAs, Parkinson is proving she’s got the magic. In fact, her thoughts on female writers and fierce women made us forget about Julie Walters for a moment.
Katherine Parkinson speaks about her Rivals character and female writers
In Rivals, Katherine Parkinson plays Lizzie—an outwardly sweet, slightly chaotic wife who finds herself in the middle of a juicy affair. Sounds scandalous, right? But before you clutch your pearls, let’s hear it from the queen herself. When asked why her character, who’s described as the “moral heart” of the story, went on to cheat, Parkinson didn’t flinch.
Instead of playing defensive or brushing it off, Katherine Parkinson handled the moment like a total pro. Rather than apologizing for Lizzie’s bold choices, she leaned in and gave a nuanced take during her interview with Radio Times. The actress who has now been cast as Molly Weasley in the HBO reboot of Harry Potter exhibited confidence and clarity in her response.
Good people have affairs too. And in her case, her husband is an absolute pen*s.
Lizzie may not be perfect, but she’s real, and Katherine Parkinson isn’t afraid to own that. And that’s exactly the kind of fire we’d expect from someone brave enough to take on a role like Molly Weasley. We love a woman who owns her truth, fictional or not. Further, when asked about female representation in TV writing, Parkinson didn’t hold back either.
As an actor, I have found that working with Laura Wade [a co-writer on Rivals] – who is the same age as me and the same gender – there is often a shared sensibility that can be lacking in some scripts written by some men. That we don’t have equal representation in the people telling stories doesn’t make sense to me.
Katherine Parkinson shared how working with Rivals co-writer Laura Wade, a woman of the same age as her and mindset, created a shared vibe that’s often missing in male-dominated scripts. Now, if she’s already fighting for equality behind the scenes, imagine what she could bring to the magical halls of Hogwarts as Molly Weasley.
Katherine Parkinson is totally worthy of taking over Julie Walters’ mantle
Before we proceed any further, let’s be clear—Julie Walters is irreplaceable. She is our OG Molly Weasley. From hugging Harry like her own to delivering the most iconic line in all of wizard history, she’ll always be the magical mama in our hearts.
But just like Dumbledore got recast (twice!) and we all survived, maybe there’s space for a new kind of Molly—one built for the next generation of Potterheads. And that’s where Katherine Parkinson walks in, probably carrying a knitted scarf and waving her wand, in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot.
Now, based on her comments about Lizzie in Rivals and her zero-tolerance stance on gender inequality in writing rooms, Katherine Parkinson exhibited the depth and grit required to play a woman who holds the Weasley household (filled with six rowdy boys and one fierce Ginny) together with love and sarcasm.
And let’s be honest, Molly Weasley is more than just a mom—she’s the anchor of the family that’s majorly dominated by male presence. Therefore, with Parkinson’s sharp wit and warmth, she might just fit the right box. So while Julie Walters will always be our first magical mum, Katherine Parkinson might just be the spellbinding second coming we never knew we needed.
The Harry Potter films are currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
