Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Hermione Noma Dumezweni endorsed by Emma Watson

Emma Watson is voicing her support for the next actress set to play Hermione Granger.

Watson, who played the “brightest witch of her age” in the eight Harry Potter films, shared her excitement on Twitter for Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni, who will portray Granger in the upcoming stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

“Can’t wait to see Noma Dumezweni as Hermione on stage this year,” she wrote.

Dumezweni joins Jamie Parker as Harry Potter and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley in the production, which picks up 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows. J.K. Rowling, who developed the story with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, voiced support for Dumezweni after her casting was announced.

“Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified,” the Harry Potter author tweeted. “Rowling loves black Hermione.” Actor Matthew Lewis also rose to the casting’s defense, tweeting, “And Neville Longbottom was blonde. I really don’t care. Good luck to her.”

Performances of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will begin in London on June 7.