London, Jan 3 (IANS): "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson is voicing her support for Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni, who is set to play Hermione Granger in the upcoming stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child".

Watson, who played the “brightest witch of her age” in the "Harry Potter" films, shared her excitement on Twitter for Dumezweni, reports ew.com.

“Can’t wait to see Noma Dumezweni as Hermione on stage this year,” she wrote.

Dumezweni joins Jamie Parker as Harry Potter and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley in the production, which picks up 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows.

Earlier author J.K. Rowling, who developed the story with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, defended the casting of a black actress for the role of Granger.

“Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified,” the Harry Potter author tweeted in December 2015.

Performances of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" will begin here on June 7.