Joanne Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, to Peter James Rowling, an aircraft engineer, and Anne Volant Rowling, a science technician. She had a younger sister, Dianne, born two years later.

The Rowling family moved to Winterbourne when Joanne was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, where she displayed early storytelling abilities and a vivid imagination. Her headmaster, Alfred Dunn, is said to have been the inspiration for Albus Dumbledore.

The family moved again to Tutshill, Gloucestershire, near Chepstow, Wales. Joanne attended Wyedean Comprehensive School and Sixth Form Centre. She excelled in English and languages and enjoyed telling stories to her friends. Sean Harris, a friend at Wyedean, served as the inspiration for Ron Weasley.

Rowling studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter. She has described herself as not being particularly diligent during her studies, preferring to read outside of the curriculum and develop her own writing. This period greatly influenced her future writing, exposing her to classical mythology and literature.

Following graduation, Rowling moved to London and worked as a researcher for Amnesty International. She researched human rights abuses in Francophone Africa. This experience exposed her to the realities of injustice and suffering, themes that later subtly influenced her writing.