As most people know, Katie Leung has been in the entertainent business for over two decades, but it’s easy to forget that her repertoire extends beyond Harry Potter. Before she stepped into the layered role of Lady Araminta in Bridgerton, she voiced Caitlyn in Netflix’s Arcane, a role that was nothing if not larger than life. Arcane tells the story of sisters Vi and Jinx (formerly Powder) as their paths diverge amid a conflict between Piltover, the wealthy city, and Zaun, the impoverished undercity. The show has it all, from new technology to crime, and a bunch of personal choices that keep changing the expected outcome.
Needless to say, both characters are ample proof that she’s come a long way from the Potterverse’s Cho Chang. In Bridgerton, she steps into a different kind of spotlight, bringing something new to the evil stepmother role. On Arcane, fans could connect with Caitlyn on more levels than one, and it’s safe to say that Leung’s performance made that possible. All in all, it’s a reminder that she has always had a knack for turning supporting parts into something quite memorable.
Katie Leung’s Voice Role in ‘Arcane’ Actually Changed the Game… For Her
With even the actor who played “the boy who lived” himself clamoring to get out from under the weight of Harry Potter, there’s no doubt that Leung experienced the same. After the 7-part blockbuster, the actress found steady work in television, appearing in shows such as Roadkill, Annika, The Peripheral, and The Wheel of Time. It’s safe to say that none of these gave her the same global visibility or cultural impact as Arcane.Â
In 2021, she entered the world of League of Legends through the Netflix adaptation, lending her voice to the character Caitlyn Kiramman, a principled Piltoveran enforcer navigating complex politics, as well as the chaos of Zaun. Unlike her previous roles, this one required something she had seldom conveyed… authority, empathy, and urgency all wrapped up in one. It goes without saying that critics and fans alike noticed and boldly proclaimed her a breakout talent in a show already celebrated for its style, storytelling, and world-building. In the blink of an eye, Arcane became the moment Katie Leung stepped fully into her own.
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Fans Instantly Connected With ‘Arcane’s’ Caitlyn For Good Reason
Caitlyn is such a strong character right off the bat, and sometimes that can come across as unrelatable. But, not in this case, because her story isn’t simply rooted in strength and ideals. When she steps onto the scene, she’s this sheltered Piltovan enforcer from one of the city’s most powerful families. She’s been raised to believe that the system can work as long as there are good people in positions of power.
Needless to say, her beliefs are shattered the moment she’s thrust into a partnership with Vi, a former Zaunite inmate. The pair head to the undercity to investigate a string of violent incidents, courtesy of Jinx. Through Vi’s eyes, Caitlyn begins to see how Piltover’s laws are designed to protect a select few and destroy many. At that point, she has to decide whether justice and following the rules are synonymous.
That shift clearly plays out in Season 1, Episode 5, “Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy,” when Caitlyn follows Vi into Zaun for the first time. She immediately realizes how little her training prepared her for what’s actually happening below Piltover. She sees wounded kids on the street and enforcers on the causing end of violent altercations. There and then, she realises that Piltover is the seat of “order” while Zaun houses chaos and destruction.
Here’s the thing: what really mattered here wasn’t simply Caitlyn’s arc, but the fact that Arcane suddenly became one of Netflix’s most prestigious animated series. It even drew in viewers who had never heard of League of Legends. In the blink of an eye, Katie Leung stopped being discussed in the narrow context of a legacy franchise role from her teens. She was a major character in a show critics were actively praising for its writing, politics, and character work. Caitlyn was constantly highlighted as one of the series’ emotional entry points, and by association, Leung received the same high praise. Perhaps for the first time in years, the question was “Cho Chang, who?”
‘Bridgerton’ Needed a Lady Araminta, and Katie Was Perfect
While Leung has officially proved her mettle as an actor outside the Potterverse, the spirit of Cho Chang is hard to shake off. When she joined the cast of Bridgerton, people naturally remembered her as the girl Harry Potter had a massive crush on at some point. Needless to say, they were surprised by how much the role had drawn on her growth since then. Lady Araminta, as a character, needed an air of authority laced with vulnerability, and up to that point, many hadn’t seen that level of nuance from a live-action Leung.
So far, she has worn the role like a fitted glove, truly portraying a complex matriarch who protects her daughters and holds her own against a world built on gossip and marriage politics. In more ways than one, Araminta is more than the usual evil stepmother; she feels real because Katie brings lived experience and a refined sense of timing. With that in mind, her casting was practically transformative for the show, allowing Bridgerton to do its thing while expanding its cultural reach yet again, allowing Katie Leung to step into a role that matched her evolution and skill.
Want to hear Katie Leung captivate audiences, using just her voice? Watch Arcane on Netflix.
