Tom Burke Discusses His Involvement with JK Rowling’s Controversial Views

Tom Burke, a renowned actor known for his roles in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Souvenir, was recently asked about his association with the infamous author, JK Rowling. Rowling, who has been a polarising figure due to her controversial comments about the transgender community, has had her novels adapted by the BBC into the crime drama show, Strike, where Burke plays protagonist Cormoran Blue Strike.

During an interview with the Independent, Burke, in response to questions about his feelings towards Rowling’s stance on transgender people and his involvement in Strike, mentioned that he had reflected on these points extensively. He stated that his integrity is unshakeable when it comes to his role in Strike and described the controversy surrounding Rowling’s views as a “complex issue.” Burke added that he primarily hoped for resolution between all parties involved and sought to avoid causing more harm or amplifying the contention through offhand or ill-timed comments. He further shared his displeasure at the term ‘culture war’ and stressed his desire to foster unity rather than contribute to divisions.

Jake Rowling’s views on transgender people

Rowling’s perspective on transgender rights became public in 2019 when she vocalised her support for the gender critical campaigner Maya Forstater. Her controversial viewpoints heightened in 2020 after a tweet stating that “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.” She further asserted that acknowledging the concept of sex doesn’t equate to hate speech.
Rowling’s contentious ideologies have led her to write a “TERF wars” essay and publish novels that feature alleged anti-trans points. In 2022, she even established a rape and sexual assault crisis centre that explicitly excludes trans women as service users or employees.

Rowling’s anti-trans comments have sparked a backlash in the LGBTQ+ community, being cited in a 2021 international LGBTQ+ rights review as causing “significant damage” through promoting transphobic hate speech.

Impact on Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson

Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have publicly expressed their disapproval of Rowling’s incendiary views on transgender issues. Burke was asked about his thoughts on their statements during the interview. He highlighted the importance of personal integrity and affirmed that he respects their prerogative to comment sharply on the issue. However, he added that personally, he prefers to stay away from adding to the confrontation and aims to contribute to the solution instead.

Radcliffe penned a blog post for The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ charity, stating that “Transgender women are women,” while Watson took to Twitter to affirm her support for the trans community. These actors, along with other members of the Harry Potter franchise, have been instrumental in voicing their discontent with Rowling’s controversial statements.

About Tom Burke

Burke is not new to the industry, having worked in theatre, film, and TV. He is best known for roles in productions like Strike, The Musketeers, True Things, and Mank. Burke was born to actors Anna Calder-Marshall and David Burke, which may explain his aptitude for performing arts. His work spans both mainstream and arthouse cinema genres.

Tom Burke in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

In Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Burke portrays the character Praetorian Jack. The sequel to Fury Road, directed by George Miller, narrates the action-packed journey of Furiosa who battles against Dementus after he murders her mother. Praetorian Jack becomes a key ally during her quest for revenge. Burke’s character is praised by GQ as the “only good man” in the movie who helps shine a light of hope in a desolate setting.