J.K. Rowling is 55 years old. However, the "Harry Potter" author has not had much to celebrate recently …
Joanne K. Rowling turns 55 this Friday (July 31). But in the past few weeks she has not had much to celebrate. The "Harry Potter" author is criticized for her controversial statements about transsexual people. Is that why she stays on her books? According to "Variety", she cannot at least be happy with the rest of the industry about the big growth in the USA. In their British homeland, however, according to the "Guardian", the "Harry Potter" books were again in high demand during the corona lockdown.
The reason why Rowling could still have spoiled with many of her fans is her controversial comments about transsexual people. Not only readers, but also numerous stars took a public stance. Daniel Radcliffe (31), who played Harry Potter in the famous film series, Rupert Grint (31, Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (30, Hermione Granger) and other celebrities had criticized the author. "I want my transsexual followers to know that I and many other people around the world recognize, respect and love you for what you are," Watson had tweeted.
In several consecutive tweets, the actress wrote: "Transsexuals (…) deserve to be able to live a life without being constantly questioned or being told that they are not what they say they are." That was exactly what Rowling had indirectly questioned with her criticized statements when she said, among other things, that the biological sex is an inevitable reality.
The "most problematic film franchise" in the world
The main character from the "Fantastic Beasts" films that Rowling writes and produces, Eddie Redmayne (38), also distanced himself from the author. In an interview with the US portal "Variety" he said: "As someone who has worked with J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I want to make it clear where I stand: I contradict Jo's comments."
How to continue with the "Fantastic Beasts" film series? The shooting of part three had to be postponed in spring due to the Corona crisis. Recently there have been rumors that these can be recorded in the summer, but this has not yet been confirmed. Five films are planned. In the US media, the series is already called "the most problematic film franchise" in the world.
Difficult millions
Despite lost fans, criticism and Corona: Rowling doesn't have to worry about their finances. Last year she called "Forbes" the author with the greatest income worldwide: she is said to have made the equivalent of 80 million euros. In addition to the "Fantastic Beasts", she has also had great success in the past few years with the play "Harry Potter and the Enchanted Child". The original date for the German premiere of the play in Hamburg was planned for mid-March, but was postponed due to the corona pandemic.
Rowling also wrote the successful crime stories about Cormoran Strike under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The books on the cases of the private investigator who is investigating together with his assistant Robin have also been made into a film for television. Part five is scheduled for release in the fall.
A story like from a fairy tale
As is well known, Rowling's rise to one of the most famous personalities worldwide is itself a fairytale story: From a single mother who was dependent on social assistance to a multi-millionaire – Rowling only needed five years to do this. She grew up near Bristol, her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis, and she is said to have had a tense relationship with her father. Rowling was later diagnosed with depression.
In 1990, according to legend, Rowling wrote the first "Potter" ideas on a napkin on a late train from Manchester to London. The famous sorcerer's apprentice, like his creator, has a birthday on July 31. Rowling's first book, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (1997), was written on a typewriter. A first edition of it is now said to be worth up to 34,000 euros; the novel is now considered one of the best-selling books in the world. Rowling often started out writing in cafés in Edinburgh, where she was after returning from Portugal, with her little daughter Jessica from her failed first marriage.
Twelve publishers are said to have rejected the first manuscript of "Harry Potter", Bloomsbury finally gave Rowling a chance without knowing that it started a mega-bestseller series … Rowling got rich, but also gives a lot of her money for charity. She often campaigns for donations to children's health organizations, especially the Lumos organization she founded, and has donated large sums of money to research and cure multiple sclerosis, her mother died in 1990 at the age of 45 from the disease. Rowling has been married to anesthetist Neil Murray since 2001, with whom she had two more children.