Queenie Goldstein

Queenie Goldstein is a half-blood American witch and a powerful, natural Legilimens. She is the younger sister of Porpentina Goldstein. Initially an employee in the Wand Permit Office at the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), Queenie's story is largely defined by her empathetic nature, her forbidden romance with the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski, and her subsequent, temporary turn to the cause of Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts film). It is important to note that Queenie Goldstein is a character created for the Fantastic Beasts film series and does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels. All information below is derived from supplementary materials and must be cited accordingly.

Note: The following biography is based entirely on the Fantastic Beasts film series.

• Meeting Newt Scamander (1926): In 1926, Queenie lived with her sister Tina in a New York City brownstone. She first met Newt Scamander and Jacob Kowalski when Tina brought them home after they caused a disturbance at the Steen National Bank. Queenie was immediately fascinated by Jacob, a No-Maj, and used her advanced Legilimency to read his open and kind mind, quickly developing a deep affection for him. She aided Newt, Tina, and Jacob in rounding up Newt's escaped magical creatures and helped them evade MACUSA. Despite the strict laws separating wizards and No-Majs, her feelings for Jacob deepened. After the final confrontation with Gellert Grindelwald and the Obscurial Credence Barebone, Jacob's memory was obliviated. However, Queenie later visited him at his bakery, and a glimmer of recognition from him suggested their story was not over (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Joining Grindelwald (1927): A year later, Queenie and Jacob were in a relationship, but it was strained. Queenie had placed an enchantment on Jacob to make him agree to marry her and move to England, where wizard/non-magical relations were more accepted. When the enchantment was broken, a heartbroken Jacob expressed his fear that marriage would put her in danger from the wizarding authorities. Distraught by his refusal, Queenie left to find her sister in Paris. Alone and vulnerable in the city, she was found by an associate of Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald preyed on her desire for the freedom to love whomever she chose, promising a world where she and Jacob could be together without fear. At a rally at Père Lachaise Cemetery, despite pleas from Jacob and Newt, Queenie was swayed by Grindelwald's charismatic vision and chose to walk through the blue flames to join his side (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Serving Grindelwald and Return (1930s): While serving Grindelwald, Queenie was stationed at Nurmengard castle in Austria. Her primary role was using her Legilimency to read the mind of Credence Barebone for Grindelwald, though she was also tasked with foreseeing the future. She grew increasingly unhappy and isolated, realizing Grindelwald's true nature was one of cruelty, not freedom. During the election for the new Supreme Mugwump in Bhutan, she was finally able to reconnect with Jacob. Remorseful and disillusioned, she abandoned Grindelwald and reconciled with Jacob. The two were married shortly after in a small ceremony at Jacob's bakery (Fantastic Beasts film).

Queenie is depicted as a very beautiful woman with a stylish, bobbed blonde haircut and a penchant for fashionable 1920s clothing, often in shades of pink. She has a warm, vivacious, and deeply empathetic personality, which is both a strength and a vulnerability tied to her Legilimency. Being able to constantly hear the thoughts of others makes her incredibly compassionate but also sensitive and sometimes insecure. She is a free spirit who is initially kind and hospitable, but her intense desire for love and acceptance makes her susceptible to manipulation when she feels her dreams are being thwarted (Fantastic Beasts film).

• Legilimency: Queenie is an exceptionally powerful and skilled Legilimens, born with the ability. Unlike Severus Snape or Lord Voldemort, who required eye contact and focus, Queenie can passively and actively read the minds of those around her with ease, hearing thoughts as a constant stream of information. She can delve deep into memories and emotions without an incantation (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Non-Verbal Spells: Like many powerful adult wizards, Queenie is highly proficient at casting spells non-verbally, often using them for domestic tasks like cooking and cleaning (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Charms: She demonstrates a strong aptitude for Charms, effortlessly performing complex domestic magic to prepare meals and mend clothing (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Wandless Magic: Queenie has shown the ability to perform simple wandless magic, such as magically unlatching a briefcase (Fantastic Beasts film).

• Wand: Queenie's wand is dark, sleek, and art-deco in style, with a rose-gold shell handle at the base. The core material and wood are unknown (Fantastic Beasts film prop replica).

• Porpentina Goldstein ('Tina'): Queenie's older sister and closest family member. They share a deep bond and lived together in New York. Their relationship became strained after Queenie enchanted Jacob and later joined Grindelwald, but Tina never gave up on her (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Jacob Kowalski: The love of Queenie's life. As a No-Maj, Jacob's relationship with Queenie was illegal under MACUSA law. Their struggle to be together is the central motivation for Queenie's most significant life choices, including her tragic decision to follow Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Newt Scamander: Queenie considers Newt a good friend. She is often able to sense his true feelings and intentions due to her Legilimency and supports his efforts to do what is right (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Gellert Grindelwald: Grindelwald saw Queenie's power and emotional vulnerability as an asset. He skillfully manipulated her desire for a world where she could freely love Jacob, convincing her to join his cause. She later came to fear him and realized the deceptive nature of his promises (Fantastic Beasts film).

• Queenie: A diminutive form of “Queen.” The name reflects her glamorous appearance and can also be seen as a term of endearment, fitting her warm personality.
• Goldstein: A common Ashkenazi Jewish surname of German and Yiddish origin, from gold (“gold”) and stein (“stone”). This indicates her Jewish heritage (Pottermore).

• Queenie Goldstein is a main character in the Fantastic Beasts film series, created by J.K. Rowling. She does not exist in the original Harry Potter book series.
• In the films, she is portrayed by American actress and singer-songwriter Alison Sudol (film).
• J.K. Rowling has stated that the difference between Queenie's Legilimency and Voldemort's is that “Queenie is an empath. She's not only reading your thoughts, she's reading your feelings” (J.K. Rowling interview).