It’s an amazing character and I love playing Luna

Drogheda’s new Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch talks exclusively to Marie Kierans

What age where you when you first started reading Harry Potter?

I was eight, nearly nine. At that time I was reading girly books and the idea of an eleven year old boy with glasses didn't appeal to me so it took a bit of coaxing from my mum. But after the first chapter I just fell in love with the books.

What drew you to the books, what is it about Harry Potter that appealed to you?

It’s difficult to say exactly. I read books to escape from my surroundings and to make me forget about my own troubles. And Harry Potter does that.

Sometimes, I'm stressed and I'm sick of things and I need to forget about them just for a while, so in Harry Potter you're taken to this wonderful imaginary world where everything is so different and it's refreshing but also the main characters are completely real and modern so you can relate to them, whereby they're not fire-breathing monsters bent on conquering the universe-they're normal teenagers, just in different situations.

I think that's part of why I love them but even I don't know exactly what it is. And I like it that way...

When and how did you hear that they were auditioning for the part of Luna?

Before I got the part I used to go on Mugglenet (a Harry Potter fansite) every day and about four weeks ago I was checking the news and it said there were going to be open auditions for Luna Lovegood.

What inspired you to go and audition. Was it a spur of the moment decision?

No, I always wanted to be Luna. She has been my favourite character since she was introduced in the fifth book and it was always a dream to play her. I had written to Warner Bros. before asking them for an audition and my friends and I made tapes of me being Luna but we never had any success.

And I was surprised when I read about the open auditions because WB had already said they had picked five finalists to play Luna so I thought the part was out of reach. So when I realised that Irish girls were allowed to go I knew that I was meant to go.

Were your family supportive and who accompanied you?

Well, they all knew that it was my dream but they also thought that the chances were very low because I'm Irish and had no big acting achievements so they thought I was being a bit too hopeful. But my Dad realised how important it was to me and said I should at least have a chance so he took me. I thought that if I got there and played true to Luna then I had as good of a chance as anyone. And I knew if I didn't even go I'd probably regret it for the rest of my life.

The audition day in London, what was it like? Was it nerve-wrecking?

No, not nerve-wracking. I feel very close to Luna, so acting as her was just natural. It wasn't like a Maths test where I have to strain to get it all right. And if I had got too nervous I'd have done terribly. Of course I was a bit nervous, but only a bit. We waited in the queue for four hours, then went in and stood in lines with other girls.

We had to step forward and say our name and where we were from and then two ladies would pick one or two out of each line. After that we were told to go into another room and read over a script and try and learn it.

And then, one by one we went into another room (alone) and had to read the script with another lady and a man with a camera. They kept asking me to read it again and I was just hoping that was a good sign. At last they let me go and by then I did feel rather shaky.

What happened after you were called back. Is it true you had to do a screen test, what was that like?

Yes, I had a screen test a week later. It all happened so fast, because one week I was in school and the next I'm at Leavesden Studios in Dumbledore’s office reading scenes with Daniel Radcliffe. Weird. And terrifying for such a huge Harry Potter fan. It was mad. Brilliant, but mad.

How did you find out you got the part, and what feelings did you experience?

I came home from the screen test a bit down-hearted knowing that it was highly possible that I may never visit that fantasy studio again. I expected either to be told 'nope' or 'come for another test'. So I was stunned when I got a call on Monday (four days after the screen test) telling me I got the part. I was completely shocked and couldn't quite understand that I had got the part. I thought it was some awful joke or they were testing me or something but I still got so excited. Unfortunately I couldn't jump up and down and scream or anything because I got the call in the local shop, grocery shopping for my mum and that might have attracted a bit of attention.

Who were you able to tell before the official announcement?

No-one really! I found out on January 23 and the official announcement was made on February 2.

How did you manage to keep it a secret?

I had to keep it quiet for days and pretend everything was normal which was hard considering my dream had just come true and each day my friends would ask was there any news. So, when I went home that day I had to study for my French test as if everything was normal!

I did get to tell my closest friends a day before the announcement but they promised they wouldn't tell a soul. I'm quite sure not all of them kept that promise!

Would you encourage other girls to follow their dreams?

Of course! Don't ever give up. Don't see the obstacles, just the way around them. For me, of course it looked improbable, but not impossible. So as long as there was a way, I would not be discouraged.

Keep your options open though. I mean don't put your future on the line for one dream that may never come true-have lots of dreams. And work to make them come true.

But if it doesn't all happen as you planned, don't worry, there's other ways. So, definitely, keep at it, it pays off. Why did you just say girls though? Boys can follow their dreams too.

When do you start filming and how long will it take?

Well, for me it doesn't start until March but some of the actors are already back. The filming goes from February til October but I won't be constantly filming the whole time. Some months are heavy, others not so much. Filming is completely off for June because some of the actors have exams.

How do you feel about moving to London, will anyone accompany you there?

Can't wait! I love London. I'll be back regularly though. It's not like I'm going 'til October. During the months I'm there a lot I'll stay but when there's only a few days I'll be back a lot. I have to get a chaperone over there. I don't know much about it yet. But my mum and dad won't be coming because they have jobs, my brothers and sisters, their own lives.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Just playing Luna. She's such an amazing character and I really enjoy being her. I feel comfortable. And I want to do her character justice. And, I promise to all Luna fans that I will stay completely true to her because she deserves no less.

I also love Luna’s clothes. And, working with all the famous actors who I adore, and getting all the behind the scenes secrets. But I'm looking forward to all of it really!

How have your school friends in Greenhills reacted. Did you expect such a media frenzy?

My friends are great. They're happy for me and they were all so excited when I told them. Yes, I was given a hint after I saw the 15,000 people queue at the auditions that there would be excitement. And because I'm a fan, I was vaguely aware what it would be like. Still, it was a shock to be on the news.

Is there anything you've read about yourself that you would like to correct?

Not any lies really, no. I would like to say to all the fans that are disappointed in the choice for Luna having seen the photo of me in the papers, is that this was my first photo shoot and I felt a bit awkward.

And you have to remember that this is not how Luna will look in the film at all. So I ask that you please wait and reserve judgement 'til after you've seen the film. I promise to work hard to do a good Luna!

Is it true that you have a cat called Luna, named after the character you are about to play?

Yes. She has huge eyes like Luna. Otherwise, she's nothing like her though.

What appeals to you about the character Luna?

It's like how I was saying before about the books making you forget everything around you and taking you somewhere else.

Luna does that. Sometimes, the other characters are too normal and then you start to be brought back to reality but then Luna shows up and she is just so funny and cool and honest and slightly mad and she's all that matters. She is 100% true. She puts on no shows, because she is so comfortable with herself.

She's not rebelling and being all consciously 'I'm proud of me'- she's just being how she's meant to be. It doesn't occur to her that she's different, because she's not.

Most people have their masks that they wear for other people so that they'll fit in and be 'cool' but she doesn't and that is what 'cool' is. She is also completely independent.

She has no friends and while she would like them, she doesn't brood on it because she can support herself. Most people would be unhappy without their friends.

They need them for support and feel insecure without them but because Luna is so comfortable with herself, this doesn't bother her. She is the perfect role model.

Are you excited about filming alongside Daniel Radcliffe?

Yes. Wouldn't you be? He's a brilliant Harry. I'm excited about filming alongside all of them. They're all amazing. And this is the closest I'm going to get to going to Hogwarts (because unexpectedly, I never received my letter to Hogwarts) and they all bring the characters of the books to life so I know I'll enjoy it all.

Credit to Drogheda Independent