• On January 23rd 2006, she discovered she had beaten out over 15,000 girls, from all over the United Kingdom and Ireland, for the much coveted role of Luna Lovegood in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007).
• In 2003, aged eleven years old, Evanna was disappointed that she would miss the release of the novel ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ as she had been hospitalised. However, the hospital released her for a morning on the day of the launch where a local bookstore arranged for her to receive a copy that was signed by author J.K. Rowling. On the day, Evanna was dressed in a Harry Potter t-shirt and having scrawled ‘”I love Harry Potter” down her arms. She had also painted her nails blue with Harry Potter written on every second nail and the golden snitch on every other one as well as sporting painted-on black Harry Potter glasses on.
• She is a cat-lover who owns a cat named Luna. When Luna has kittens, she named one of them Dumbledore. Her other cat Crookshanks died in 2006.
• She was a fan of the ‘Harry Potter’ novels long before being cast in the films. She claims to have read the books several times.
• Her father flew her to London to the open audition for the part of Luna Lovegood in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007). Her mother did not believe she had much of a chance of winning the role so initially refused to let her apply.
• She is currently at Our Lady’s College, Greenhills, an all girls’ Catholic school located in Drogheda, Ireland. During her primary school years, she attended Cartown National School.
• She lives with her father Donal, mother Marguerite and elder sisters Emily and Maerad and younger brother Patrick in Termonfeckin, County Louth, Leinster, Ireland.
• As a younger child, she continuously wrote to JK Rowling and, in one such letter, commented about 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 happened. And to Evanna’s surprise, Rowling wrote back, “Don’t be too hard on Termonfeckin; it does have a brilliant name! And I come from a very sleepy place.”.
• Is a vegetarian.
• Made the pair of radish earrings worn by her character Luna Lovegood in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’.
• Attends a summer camp in Dublin, Ireland called CTYI (Centre for Talented Youth of Ireland) which was specially set up for the academically talented children in Ireland.
• She was given a necklace with a hare and moon pendant by J.K. Rowling.
• The velvet green dress she wore for her photoshoot with Ciaran Sweeney was made specifically for her by Spanish designer Jimena Rivola. The design was made such to make Evanna “shine”. Rivola commented that she was “satisfied … with the model and the result [of the dress]“.
• Although they share four movies Evanna has never acted alongside nor met acclaimed British actor Alan Rickman, who plays Professor Severus Snape, during her time as Luna Lovegood at the Leavesden Studios.
• Prior to auditioning for ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ Evanna had only one bit of acting experience – playing Saint Francis of Assisi in a first year drama production in primary school.
• Can speak English fluently and is well versed in Gaelic and French.
• In January 2011, on behalf of the The HP Alliance, Evanna wrote on why the Body Bind Curse would be her Boggart. During the course of the essay, Evanna remarked upon her own body issues, mainly her battle with anorexia, and urged all Potter-ites to use their body to their fullest extent and to appreciate and think positive thoughts. The entire essay can be read here at the HP Alliance website. She also expanded upon her article in a comment later on.
• She is incredibly close with fellow ‘Potter’ actor, Scarlett Byrne (Pansy Parkinson).
• Evanna appeared in Jessie Cave’s (Lavendar Brown) Youtube web mini-series, ‘Flat Whites’. Evanna plays Cousin Geneva and has appeared in two episodes. Other ‘Potter’ alum, including Scarlett Byrne and Georgina Leonidas (Pansy Parkinson and Katie Bell, respectively), and follows the story of coffee eccentric Rochelle (Cave) and her extended family.
