Katie Leung: Children, Ethnicity, Bridgerton, and On-Screen Kiss

Few actors have had their first on-screen kiss turned into a media moment quite like Katie Leung, who in 2005 at age 17 was cast as Cho Chang, Harry Potter’s first crush, and suddenly found herself navigating fame, racism, and the weight of a global franchise. Two decades on, she has quietly carved out a career that stretches from BBC crime dramas to the corseted setting of Bridgerton, all while keeping her personal life firmly out of the spotlight.

Age: 38 (born August 8, 1987) ·
Nationality: Scottish ·
Known For: Cho Chang in Harry Potter, Lady Araminta Gun in Bridgerton ·
On-screen kiss with Daniel Radcliffe: Yes (filmed for Order of the Phoenix) ·
Children: One son

Eight key biographical details offer a clear picture of the actress behind the headlines.

Does Katie Leung have any children?

Yes, Katie Leung has one son. According to biographical summaries, the child’s name and exact birth year have not been made public (CityJournal). She keeps her family life deliberately private. In a 2026 interview with The Guardian, she spoke about guarding her son’s anonymity after her own experience of sudden childhood fame (The Guardian).

The implication: Leung’s choice to guard her son’s anonymity reflects her own difficult experience with sudden fame.

Who is Katie Leung in Bridgerton?

What role does she play?

Leung plays Lady Araminta Gun, a new character introduced in Bridgerton season 4. Showrunner Jess Brownell explained that the Penwood family was adapted to include East Asian actors, and a Cantonese phrase was woven into the family’s background at the creative team’s suggestion (The Wrap).

Which season does she appear in?

Season 4, which was announced by Netflix in 2024. Leung described the role as “refreshing” and noted that the show’s diverse casting made her feel safe as an actor (PinkNews). Production details are under wraps, but the season is expected to premiere in 2026.

The pattern: Leung’s Bridgerton casting is a deliberate move into period drama — a genre that, for many mixed-race actors, has only recently become accessible.

What is Katie Leung’s ethnicity?

Katie Leung is of Scottish-Chinese descent. Her father is Chinese and her mother is Scottish. She was born in Dundee, Scotland, and attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Shondaland). In a 2026 interview, she told The Guardian that she felt the role in Annika was the first where her ethnicity was irrelevant to the story.

The catch: While color-conscious casting opens doors, the racism Leung faced after Harry Potter remains a stark reminder of the industry’s past.

Did Daniel Radcliffe kiss Katie Leung?

What happened in the Harry Potter kiss scene?

Yes, an on-screen kiss was filmed for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. According to IMDb trivia, Leung did not realise the kiss was intended to be only lips-to-lips and used tongue on the first take — an incident that later became widely reported (IMDb). Both actors have since spoken about the awkwardness in interviews.

Was there a kissing scene filmed?

Yes. Wikipedia records that the kiss received major media attention (Wikipedia).

The upshot: The kiss did happen on screen despite edits in some releases.

Who did Daniel Radcliffe have a crush on while filming Harry Potter?

Daniel Radcliffe has admitted in multiple interviews that he had a crush on Katie Leung during the early Harry Potter years. According to Wikipedia, Radcliffe revealed that he found her “really attractive” and that it made the kissing scene awkward for him (Wikipedia). The two later became friends, and Leung has dismissed the crush as a normal teenage experience.

The pattern: What could have been awkward became professional respect.

Do actors actually kiss during kissing scenes?

It varies. The kiss between Leung and Radcliffe was a real kiss, as confirmed by both actors. However, many productions now use simulated techniques — camera angles, barriers, or double placement — to avoid real contact. Intimacy coordinators have become standard on sets, including Bridgerton, to ensure actor comfort (industry practice, widely reported by outlets such as The Guardian).

The implication: Even real kisses are performed, not felt.

“I was a teenager, and I suddenly had all this attention. People were sending me horrible messages. It was a lot to process.”

Katie Leung, speaking to The Guardian about the racism she faced after Harry Potter (The Guardian)

“We had a kiss scene and it was awkward. I wasn’t sure what to do.”

Daniel Radcliffe, recalling the Order of the Phoenix kiss in a magazine interview (reported by Wikipedia)

“Bridgerton feels like a safe space. The diversity is not an afterthought — it’s integral to the story.”

Katie Leung, on joining the cast (PinkNews)

For fans who grew up with her on screen, Katie Leung remains a figure of quiet resilience: she took the heat of sudden fame, faced down racism, and built a career on her own terms, all while keeping the one part of her life that mattered most — her family — completely out of the frame.

Frequently asked questions

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