Sirona Ryan is a character first introduced in the video game Hogwarts Legacy. She is the proprietress of the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade in 1890 when the game takes place.
Notably, Sirona Ryan is the Wizarding World’s first confirmed trans woman, a fact that has drawn a great deal of attention to her character.
Sirona Ryan began her job at the Three Broomsticks as a student, waiting tables, well before she ended up buying the establishment years later.
It is implied that she transitioned during or after her time at school, as she refers to her classmates not recognizing her, taking “a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
Hogwarts Legacy may be the game that Harry Potter fans have been waiting for, but it’s not one that’s unmarred by controversy.
Thanks to comments made by author J.K. Rowling over the last few years, a great number of fans have soured on the beloved franchise.
Rowling’s recent actions have led to claims that the author is transphobic, and many gamers are even boycotting the new game in order to stand with the trans community.
After all, although J.K. Rowling isn’t too involved with Hogwarts Legacy‘s development, she will receive royalties from its sales, according to Forbes.
What Does Sirona Ryan Mean for Hogwarts Legacy?
Avalanche Software has done its best to avoid commenting on the Harry Potter author’s controversy over the years. Some fans have even seen Sirona Ryan as being a token inclusion, made to direct the conversation away from Rowling’s recent statements.
But a few indications suggest that the development team supports the trans community.
For example, you can’t choose your character’s gender in Hogwarts Legacy. Instead, players simply select one of two voice options and choose whether their student will stay in the Witch or Wizard dormitories.
What’s more, Sirona Ryan’s inclusion would further suggest that the development team recognizes and wishes to acknowledge the trans community. But the character’s inclusion doesn’t come without its own controversy.
What’s the Controversy Behind Sirona Ryan’s Name?
Several fans have criticized Hogwarts Legacy’s only confirmed trans character, Sirona Ryan, for featuring the title Sir, a male honorific, as part of her name.
For the record, Sirona is a name of a Celtic goddess and healing deity associated with healing springs.
The name has existed since around 200 CE, though it is uncommon to hear it in modern-day society.
Whether or not there is any malicious intent behind the name’s association with a trans woman in Hogwarts Legacy, there’s no way of telling. However, it’s worth noting that the character was not created by J.K. Rowling.
Who Is Sirona Ryan’s Voice Actor in Hogwarts Legacy?
Sirona Ryan’s voice actor has not been officially revealed. For now, the role is uncredited both in-game and on the Hogwarts Legacy IMDB page.
As soon as more information is revealed, we’ll update this article.
You can see the rest of the Hogwarts Legacy voice actor cast list here!
What Has Hogwarts Legacy’s Developer Said About Sirona Ryan?
In a statement made to IGN, Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software was seemingly very tactical in how it referred to the character of Sirona Ryan.
When asked about what the transgender character could mean for the game, in light of J.K. Rowling’s opposition to trans women, Avalanche replied:
“The team felt that it was very important to create a game that is representative of the rich and diverse world of Harry Potter as well as the groups of people who play games, which includes the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Though the developer seems unwilling to comment specifically on Sirona Ryan’s transgender identity, it does claim that it aimed to “create a game that is representative and diverse” with Hogwarts Legacy.
