{
  "id": 5040134,
  "title": "Who is Sirine Saba, the Lebanese-Palestinian actress playing Professor Sprout in Harry Potter?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/who-is-sirine-saba-the-lebanese-palestinian-actress-playing-professor-5040134",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T07:05:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film-tv/2026/09/02/who-is-sirine-saba-the-lebanese-palestinian-happy-potter-actor-professor-sprout/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lebanese-Palestinian actress Sirine Saba takes on the role of Professor Pomona Sprout in HBO's Harry Potter series. Premiering on OSN+ in the Middle East during the Christmas season, the first trailer is set to release soon. Saba will portray the Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff House, replacing Miriam Margolyes, who played the character in previous films. Saba's acting career spans decades, having trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performing on stage, television, film, and radio. Born in Beirut in 1975, Saba spent her early years in Cyprus before moving back to Lebanon. She has appeared in productions exploring themes of Lebanon, Palestine, and the Arab world, including works by Palestinian playwrights. Saba's casting announcement coincides with the Back to Hogwarts Showcase, and she joins a cast that includes Warwick Davis, Dominic McLaughlin, and others.",
  "summary": "Lebanese-Palestinian actress Sirine Saba is joining the faculty at Hogwarts as Professor Pomona Sprout in HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . Premiering on OSN+ in the Middle East this Christmas, the series is set to release its first full trailer today, as announced during Tuesday's Back to Hogwarts Showcase in London. Saba will play the Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Who is Sirine Saba, the Lebanese-Palestinian actress playing Professor Sprout in Harry Potter?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/who-is-sirine-saba-the-lebanese-palestinian-actress-playing-professor",
        "published": "2026-09-02T07:05:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}