JK Rowling: “Harry Potter” finder is 60 years old

If the name JK Rowling (60) falls, it is no longer just about “Harry Potter”. The author, who turns 60 on July 31, is massively criticized. The reason: it has noticed discriminatory statements towards trans people for years. Rowling believes that the biological gender cannot be changed.

Critics accuse her of fueling hate through her controversial comments. The stars of the “Harry Potter” films – Daniel Radcliffe (36), Rupert Grint (36) and Emma Watson (35) – have distanced themselves from her. Rowling to be transcovers. It is worried about women’s rights, she says.

Finally, however, the focus was now on the one, which Rowling once famous and rich: Magic apprentice Harry Potter. A series that is based like the movies on Rowling’s seven “Potter” novels is currently being created. In 2027, the first episodes at the HBO Max streaming service should start.

Rowling is not directly involved in the series scripts, as recently revealed when asked by a fan. “But I worked closely with the extremely talented authors,” she said via social media. As a producer, she is also involved in the project.

JK Rowling will also publish the eighth volume of her book series around the private detective Cormoran Strike this year, which she writes under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. In autumn “the marked man” comes to the book stores. With “Strike” there is also a TV series for the crime novels.

Because of the money, Rowling probably no longer works. The author is considered a billionaire, currently estimated at $ 1.2 billion. A wealth that the “Harry Potter” franchise gave her. In addition to the bestseller books that were published between 1997 and 2007, and the movies (2001-2011) there is also a stage piece with “Harry Potter and the enchanted child” as well as “Fantastic Beasts”. There are also video games and themed parks. In the past 20 years, according to “Forbes”, the author has also donated more than $ 200 million for charitable purposes.

JK Rowling has worked hard. The rise of the British writer to one of the best -known personalities worldwide offers enough material for its own book: from the single mother, who rely on social welfare, to the multimillionaire – only five years needed. She grew up near Bristol, her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis, and she is said to have had a tense relationship with her father. Depression was later diagnosed at Rowling.

In 1990, Rowling wrote down the first “Potter” ideas on a napkin in a train from Manchester to London. Her first book, “Harry Potter and the Stone of the Wise”, wrote her on a typewriter. The novel is now considered one of the best -selling books in the world. Rowling often initially wrote in Cafés in Edinburgh, where she had gone after her return from Portugal – her little daughter Jessica from her first marriage failed there was there. Twelve publishers are said to have rejected the first manuscript of “Harry Potter”, Bloomsbury finally gave Rowling a chance without knowing that a mega bestseller series began.

She also seems to have found her luck privately: since 2001 Rowling has been married to the anesthetist Neil Murray with whom she got two more children. The controversial bestselling author shares her day of honor with her creation: The famous sorcerer’s apprentice Harry Potter, like Rowling, has her birthday on July 31st.