Joanne Kathlene Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and a superstar among young adult fantasy fiction writers, turns 51 on this July 31.
The woman has been a source of inspiration and enriched many a child's growing up years with her creative and engaging fantasy series. The latest instalment from the Harry Potter universe came in the form of a play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Many a times she has also been attacked for plot twists or the choice of actors, such as the recent controversy around choosing a black woman to play Hermione in the play.
However, the beloved author has never backed down from an altercation and fought for what she thought was right, like the character of Harry Potter.
Here's a list of five incidents where JK Rowling defended her characters and rights of people with all guns blazing.
1. Black actress playing Hermione Granger for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: When the decision to cast Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger was taken, people expressed outrage, but the author silenced haters and dismissed the "racists" and "idiots."
"With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot," she said in an interview with the Observer. "But what can you say? That's the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job."
2. Trump's right to be 'bigoted': JKR defended Donald Trump's right to visit the U.K. and be "bigoted and offensive" because she believes in freedom of speech. She said that ensuring his freedom to speak "protects my freedom to call him a bigot."
3. Slamming David Cameron for Brexit: The morning after the Brexit vote took place, the gutsy author slammed the U.K. prime minister for leaving a legacy of dividing the U.K. behind him.
"I don't think I've ever wanted magic more...Scotland will seek independence now. Cameron's legacy will be breaking up two unions. Neither needed to happen."
The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's script was released in a book format on her birthday, July 31, 2016.