Katie Leung, a Chinese actress most popular for her role as Cho Chang, Harry Potter's first love interest in the movie 'Goblet of Fire,' has revealed her previous struggles with being typecast into 'strictly Asian' roles.

Leung, who has Scottish and Hong Kong ancestry, stated in a recent interview that the 'ignorance of casting' should be openly addressed. She noted that many people have stereotypes that an actress with Asian heritage can not speak fluent English and be 'wholeheartedly British' in culture.

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Leung stated that these kinds of stereotypes infuriate her, describing it as 'ignorance'.

She added that these typecasts do not signify diversity, but instead depict a more realistic portrayal of Chinese people having the ability to speak English. This representation defies the assumption that 'people of colour' do not know how to speak the English Language.

​The 27-year-old actress shed details about her acting experience in 'Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire' and the repercussions of her role. Leung faced years of online abuse due to her character kissing Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who portrayed Harry Potter. A hate site was created for Leung, which contained racial slurs.

"I was quite impressed by how well I coped with it," said Leung, who dealt with the discrimination by trying to shut it out her head.

When the actress won the role for Cho Chang, she admitted to have been excited about the possibility of creating a flourishing career in the entertainment industry. However, when the filming of the movie ended, Leung realized that it was just a one-hit opportunity.

But, this may not be the end of Leung's career as an actress as she is slated to star in One Child, a BBC Two drama.

Leung plays Mei, a Chinese woman given up for adoption to British parents. One Child depicts numerous issues in the country such as execution, corruption and the one-child policy.

One Child is currently airing on BBC Two and can be streamed through iPlayer.

Tagskatie leung, cho chang, Harry Potter, typecasting