‘Luna’ reveals pen-pal friendship with Rowling

IRISH actress Evanna Lynch and Harry Potter author JK Rowling have been pen-pals for years, the 17-year-old who plays Luna Lovegood revealed yesterday.

Evanna, who has been obsessed with the book series since childhood, wrote frequently to Rowling as a youngster, telling the author how much she loved her books. “I wrote a lot to her and I poured my heart out to her. She was very sympathetic.”

Evanna, from Termonfeckin, Co Louth, was cast as Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix after beating 15,000 hopefuls in an open audition in London in 2006.

JK Rowling had nothing to do with the casting, but was thrilled to hear that she had been chosen to play the eccentric and otherworldly Luna.

“She was so excited that I got the part and could hardly believe it. ‘Is it the same girl?’ she asked the director. It was.”

In one letter to Rowling, Evanna told the author how much she would love to act in a Harry Potter film but doubted this would happen as she lived in “this sleepy little place called Termonfeckin, where nothing ever happens”.

To her surprise, Rowling wrote back, saying: “Don’t be too hard on Termonfeckin; it does have a brilliant name! And I come from a very sleepy place.”

Evanna and co-star Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the series, attended the Irish premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Savoy cinema in Dublin last night.

Evanna, who lives with her father Donal, mother Marguerite, elder sisters Máiréad and Emily, and younger brother Patrick, was given 20 tickets for the premiere for her family and friends.

“It’s great to be in Ireland for this,” said Evanna. “I have been at premieres in Belgium and Switzerland but coming home is special although I do get a bit nervous when people I know are watching the movie.”

Evanna loves playing the part of the slightly off-centre Luna and said she is not as wacky as she seems.

“She is different but she is not crazy or abnormal. She and Harry have a unique relationship. I love playing the part. She is never boring.”

She still reads the Harry Potter books in between schoolwork and filming. “They are very special to me.”

lHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince goes on general release tomorrow.