Evanna Lynch | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lynch in 2021 | |
| Born | Evanna Patricia Lynch (1991-08-16)16 August 1991 (age 34) Termonfeckin,County Louth, Ireland |
| Education | Our Lady's College, Greenhills,Drogheda Centre for Talented Youth Institute of Education |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Height | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| Relatives | Declan Kiberd (uncle) Damien Kiberd (uncle) |
Evanna Patricia Lynch (born 16 August 1991[1]) is an Irish actress and activist. She is best known for portrayingLuna Lovegood in theHarry Potter film series.
Born inCounty Louth, Ireland, Lynch made her film debut inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), reprising her role in successive sequels to critical praise, concluding withHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) and seriesparodyA Very Potter Senior Year (2012). Lynch appeared inG.B.F. (2013), which premiered at theTribeca Film Festival to positive reviews. She made her stage debut inHoudini asBess Houdini, which toured the UK in 2013. Lynch starred in the indie dramaMy Name Is Emily, which premiered at the 2015Galway Film Fleadh to critical acclaim. In 2017, Lynch starred in revival ofDisco Pigs at theTrafalgar Theatre in London. In 2018, she competed onseason 27 ofDancing with the Stars, placing third. She went on to star in the British stage adaptation ofThe Omission of the Family Coleman at theTheatre Royal, Bath in 2019.
As an activist, Lynch advocates forveganism andanimal rights. She has been involved with several non-profit organisations and launched both a vegan-themed podcast and thecruelty-free cosmetics brand Kinder Beauty Box.
Evanna Patricia Lynch was born on 16 August 1991 to Marguerite and Donal Lynch and was raised inTermonfeckin,County Louth, on the east coast of Ireland.[1][2] She has two older sisters and a younger brother.[3] Her maternal uncle isDeclan Kiberd, ascholar ofIrish literature who is a professor at theUniversity of Notre Dame.[4] Lynch was raised aCatholic.[5]
Lynch read theHarry Potter series for the first time at age eight and became a fan,[6][7][8] reading and writingfan fiction about the series[6] and sending letters to the author,J. K. Rowling.[1] She was educated at Cartown National School in Termonfeckin until June 2004 and then moved toOur Lady's College inDrogheda,[2][7] where her father was the deputy principal.[9][10] In 2008, she studied speculative fiction and drama at theCentre for the Talented Youth of Ireland, asummer school forgifted teens, inGlasnevin.[11][12] While on theHarry Potter film set, Lynch was tutored for at least three hours a day.[13] In September 2010, she attended theInstitute of Education to repeat herLeaving Certificate.[14]
Lynch developed an eating disorder at age eleven. She was hospitalised several times foranorexia, and stated that theHarry Potter novels were the only thing that could distract from her condition. During this period, she often wrote to Rowling, stating that "her books and her kindness really made me want to live again."[15] Rowling wrote then-11-year-old Lynch "incredible, wise letters" back.[16] During the release of the fifth bookOrder of the Phoenix in June 2003, Lynch was hospitalised and her family consulted with the book's publisher and the hospital; she was subsequently allowed to leave for an hour and collect a signed copy of the book.[17]
In January 2006, Lynch auditioned at acasting call in London for the role ofLuna Lovegood inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film in the series adapted from the books.[18][19] After auditioning against 15,000 other girls,[18] and a subsequent screen test with lead actorDaniel Radcliffe, she was cast at age 14.[13] Producers were impressed with her affinity for the character;David Heyman said: "The others could play Luna; Evanna Lynchis Luna."[20] Although uninvolved in the casting process, Rowling believed that Lynch was perfect for the role.[21] She had never acted professionally before theHarry Potter series, her experience having been limited to school plays.[22] While filmingHarry Potter, Lynch also made and helped design a number of fashion accessories for her character.[10][23][24][25]
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was Lynch's debut screen performance in 2007. The film was a box office hit and garnered favourable reviews.[26][27] Critics praised the performances of the supporting cast; Lynch was often singled out for acclaim:The New York Times called her performance "spellbinding",[28] and Jane Watkins ofCountry Life said she "[brought] an appealing sweetness to her character that's not so developed in the book".[29] She also voiced the character inthe film's tie-in video game.[30] Lynch reprised her role inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). The film was critically and commercially successful.[31][32]Wesley Morris ofThe Boston Globe wrote that Lynch "combats the movie's occasional sluggishness with a hilarious sluggishness of her own",[33] andMichael Dwyer ofThe Irish Times called her the best Irish actress of 2009 for her work on the film.[34] Her performance earned herScream Award andYoung Artist Award nominations,[35][36] and she returned inthe film's tie-in video game.[37]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was released in 2010 to positive reviews and box office success.[38][39] TheBoston Herald commented that Lynch "is still delightfully lunar,"[40] whileQuickflix criticised the film, noting that "the delightful Evanna Lynch is brutally underutilised".[41] She reprised her role inthe film's tie-in video game.[42] Lynch appeared in the role for the final time inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The film opened to critical acclaim and went on to become thefifth highest-grossing film of all time.[43][44]The Seattle Times wrote that Lynch "continues to be all-that-and-a-radish-earring as the ever-wafting Luna Lovegood,"[45] andOrlando Sentinel named her as "maybe" one of his "favourite players in the finale."[46] She again reprised her role inthe film's tie-in video game.[47] In August 2012 atLeakycon in Chicago she joined the cast ofStarKid to play Luna Lovegood in a script reading of the thirdHarry Potter parody musical,A Very Potter Senior Year (the other two beingA Very Potter Musical andA Very Potter Sequel).
Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling gave a speech during the premiere ofDeathly Hallows – Part 2 in London, where she stated that there were seven major cast members in the series, whom she referred to as "The Big Seven", and she named Lynch as one of the seven members, along withDaniel Radcliffe,Rupert Grint,Emma Watson,Tom Felton,Matthew Lewis andBonnie Wright.[48] Rowling has maintained that, of all the actors in the film series, Lynch had the most influence on how the respective character was subsequently written; in 2012, she toldCharlie Rose that when writing the final books, "I saw her. [She] got in my head. I even heard her voice when I was writing Luna."[49]
Lynch went on to guest star as Princess Alehna in the firstseason finale of theSky1 television seriesSinbad.[50][51] She was cast in the 2013indiecrime drama filmMonster Butler, based on the life of British serial killer and thiefArchibald Hall.[50][52] The film was cancelled due to funding issues. Lynch starred in indie teen comedyG.B.F., which screened at theTribeca Film Festival in New York City in April 2013 and at theFrameline Film Festival in San Francisco on 30 June 2013. It received positive reviews.[53]
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In May 2013, it was announced that Lynch was to star in the British stage production ofHoudini, which toured the U.K from September to October 2013; Lynch portrayedBess Houdini, the wife and assistant of magicianHarry Houdini.[54] Lynch appeared alongside Harry Potter co-starsJames and Oliver Phelps inDanny and the Human Zoo, released onBBC One in August 2015.[55] Lynch starred as the titular character in the Irish independent dramaMy Name Is Emily, written and directedSimon Fitzmaurice.[56][57] The film premiered at the 2015Galway Film Fleadh and garnered favourable reviews; theGalway Advertiser referred to Lynch's attributed her performance to "a lightness and ethereal quality" while remaining a "commanding lead, showing ... pain with a subtlety beyond her years."[58] Lynch was nominated for Best Actress at theIrish Film and Drama Awards for her performance.[59]
From July to August 2017, Lynch starred in a revival ofEnda Walsh'sDisco Pigs atTrafalgar Theatre.[60] It was later transferred tooff-Broadway at theIrish Repertory Theatre and played from January to March 2018.[61] In November 2017, it was reported that she would star in the independent dramaIndigo Valley, directed byJaclyn Bethany,[62] but was forced to drop out of the project due to scheduling conflicts[63] and was replaced withRosie Day.[64] Lynch appeared in a cameo role inJason Mewes' directorial debutMadness in the Method (2019).[65] On 12 September 2018, Lynch was announced as one of the celebrities to compete onseason 27 ofABC'sDancing with the Stars. Her professional partner wasKeo Motsepe.[66] Motsepe and Lynch made it to the show's finale, finishing in third place.[67]
In March 2019, it was announced she would appear in the British premiere of the Argentinian playThe Omission of the Family Coleman, written by Claudio Tolcachir. It premiered at theTheatre Royal, Bath and ran from March to April 2019.[68] In July 2019, Lynch stated that she will star in the vegan-themedshort film entitledYou Eat Other Animals? late that year.[69] Lynch lent her voice toNickelodeon productionsMiddle School Moguls in 2019 andRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2020.[70][71] Lynch narrated the storyThe Fountain of Fair Fortune from the audiobook adaptation ofThe Tales of Beedle the Bard, an in-universe book ofWizarding Worldchildren's stories written by Rowling. The audiobook released in March 2020, in aid of her charity,Lumos.[72]Along with her Harry Potter costarsBonnie Wright,Devon Murray, andMark Williams, Lynch attended the 2021Comic ConStuttgart, where the four of them did met-and-greets with fans.[73][74] Lynch was also present at the 2021 Comic ConBrussels.[75][76]
After co-hosting theBBC Sounds official companion podcast forNormal People in 2020, she went on to work with two of its stars,India Mullen (Peggy) andÉanna Hardwicke (Rob), onPersonal Space, a radio play forRTÉ Radio 1 in 2021.[77]
While guesting on theTalking Tastebuds podcast in 2020, Lynch reflected on her career, and handling her "overblown" expectations on it. She thought she would be "set for life" after her role as Luna Lovegood but found getting work as an actor was difficult.[78][79][80]
In 2022, Lynch launched a podcast calledJust Beings with psychologistMelanie Joy.[81][82]
Lynch voiced the lead character in the 2024 animated filmMy Freaky Family (working titleBeing Betty Flood).[83] Her next lead role will be in the satirical filmInfluenced!, a modern take onOscar Wilde'sThe Picture of Dorian Gray.[84]
Lynch has been cast to playLucia Joyce in the filmJames and Lucia, a project byRobert Mullan about writerJames Joyce and his daughter Lucia that was originally planned to film in 2018 withAidan Gillen as James.[85] It was announced in 2023 thatRupert Friend had replaced Gillen while Lynch was cast as Lucia,[86] reprising a role she previously performed in a short film and a rehearsed stage reading. Lynch stated in a 2018 interview that Lucia Joyce is "the only person I've connected to deeply in reading over the last few years."[87]
Lynch has participated in charity work, including with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland, in which she launched theirMS Readathon fundraiser in 2010.[88] Lynch is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the non-profit organisation, theHarry Potter Alliance (HPA). With the HPA, she has supportedsame-sex marriage in Maine,[89] taken part in awebcast fundraiser,[90] written an article about body image and contributed to a fundraising book.[91]
As an ambassador forJ. K. Rowling's charityLumos, Lynch and herHarry Potter co-star and fellow Lumos ambassador,Bonnie Wright, travelled to Haiti in 2016 to learn about why there are 30,000 children living in orphanages, and met children who had been rescued from terrible conditions and reunited with their families. Lynch stated about charity work for children and families, "Without families and without love, children can't be children. The most important thing as a child is to be with your family. And you have to do everything you can to keep that family unit in place".[92]
Lynch contributed an essay to the 2018 bookFeminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies, curated byScarlett Curtis, whose royalties went to theUnited Nations charity Girl Up.[93]
In a 2019 interview, Lynch said she "hated the blood [from raw meat]" as a child and, at age 11, she became avegetarian. In 2015, she turned toveganism for ethical reasons.[94][95] Lynch said that her activism is mostly done "in my free time as a way to give back and a way to right the world".[96]
In 2015, Lynch was the first person to sign the petition againstlive export in the On Cow tour, an event organised byCompassion in World Farming which visited eight cities in the European Union.[97] Since then, she has joined manyanimal rights demonstrations and campaigns.[98][99][100][101][102][103] In May 2018, Lynch and a journalist travelled toKerala, India to observe the treatment of theendangeredAsian elephant. In August, she and actorPeter Egan joined the organisation Save the Asian Elephants to hand in a 200,000-name petition to theDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, demanding to ban the advertisement in the United Kingdom of "unethical Asian elephant related holidays abroad", among other requests.[104][105]
In 2017, Lynch narrated the short documentaryiAnimal by Animal Equality, dealing with thedairy industry.[106] The film received a nomination at the 2018Raindance Film Festival.[107] In June 2018, she narrated a short film by theHumane Society International against thedog andcat meat trade in Asia.[108] In October 2019, Lynch was announced as aLovie Award winner for her activism. The committee stated that she "raises the bar for others in a position of fame to use the Internet in the most creative and accessible ways possible, to introduce new ideas to people that can truly change our world for the better".[109]
In November 2017, Lynch founded the podcastThe ChickPeeps, co-hosted byHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix actorRobbie Jarvis,Surfers Against Sewage representative Momoko Hill, and Protego Foundation founder Tylor Starr. Its content is based on veganism and features discussions on diverse topics, often joined by prominent activists such asIngrid Newkirk, Earthling Ed, andVictoria Moran, among many others.[96] Lynch startedThe ChickPeeps with the intention of running "a bit more vulnerable and human [vegan podcast] that feels like you're hanging out with friends... where we have a laugh, maybe we learn some things, maybe we ask some questions".[94]
In November 2018, Lynch co-founded, along with American actressDaniella Monet, the vegan andcruelty-free make-up and beauty carebox Kinder Beauty Box.[110] The subscription box, which started its monthly delivery in January 2019, was intended to "put ethical brands in the spotlight" and "overcome confusing jargon" used by big brands that test on animals. Kinder Beauty Box was conceived after Lynch and Monet discussed the difficulty they had looking for vegan beauty products.[96] The products are curated by them, shipped insustainable packaging and a portion of the sales goes to animal rights and environmental causes and benefits for vegan rights.[110]
In August 2022, Lynch teamed up with psychologist and author, Dr.Melanie Joy, to launch a podcast calledJust Beings. On the show, Lynch and Joy examine the common psychology that drives all harmful and unjust behaviours. Through conversations with changemakers, they explore how people can shift their thinking to create a more compassionate and just world for people, animals, and the planet — and improve their personal lives and relationships in the process.[81][82][111]
When J.K. Rowling posted a series oftweets onTwitter about thetransgender community starting in 2020, she received significant criticism, including from mostHarry Potter cast members.[112] In response, Lynch tweeted "it's irresponsible to discuss such a delicate topic" on social media, and "I wish [Rowling] wouldn't. That said, as a friend and admirer of Jo I can’t forget what a generous and loving person she is." After posting these tweets and receiving blowback for supporting Rowling, Lynch deleted her Twitter account in 2020. In an interview withThe Telegraph in 2023, Lynch stated compassion for both sides of the argument, "I know what it was like to be a teenager who hated my body so much I wanted to crawl out of my skin, so I have great compassion for trans people and I don’t want to add to their pain. I do also think it’s important that J.K. Rowling has been amplifying the voices ofde-transitioners." Lynch stated the backlash against Rowling has surprised her, "I just felt that [Rowling's] character has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. The problem is that there's a disagreement over who's the most vulnerable. I do wish people would just give her more grace and listen to her."[16]
Lynch lives inLondon, England. She stated in a 2018 interview that she has not lived in Ireland since age 18, and previously lived inLos Angeles for five years.[87] In 2007, Lynch began a relationship with herHarry Potter cast member andChickPeeps co-hostRobbie Jarvis.[113] Lynch did not make the relationship public until 2015, when she posted photos of herself and Jarvis toInstagram.[114][115] She and Jarvis split the following year, though they remain on good terms.[116][117][118] She then dated singer-songwriter AnDel in 2017. They have since broken up.[119] As of 2021, Lynch was reportedly dating an unidentifiedFrench man she met in London.[120][121] In 2025, she confirmed she was in a relationship with a man named Den.[122]
In a 2014 interview, she mentioned her devoutCatholic upbringing. "I stopped going toMass a few years ago, mainly because I disagree with the rules," she said. "I don't like anything that's about punishing yourself and making you feel bad about yourself, and growing up I felt bad about indulging myself or doing anything for fun".[5]
Lynch has worked to promote healthy self-esteem and body image in young girls because of her previous experiences with the eating disorderanorexia nervosa.[123] She wrote an essay, "Why the Body Bind is My Nightmare", where she described her emotional struggle with her appearance and how she managed to overcome it through allusions pertaining to theHarry Potter series.[124]
In October 2021,Headline in the UK andBallantine Books in the USA published Lynch's bookThe Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and Glory of Growing Up – A Memoir. It details "her recovery from anorexia and how the conflict between the comfort of self-destruction and the liberation of creativity still rages inside of her".[125]
Lynch has said that her favourite book isHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix "no matter what pretentious answer I give you".[126] She loves knitting, reading and "[dangling] off any circus apparatus within reach", as well as dancing and circus arts.[127] As a vegan, she has shared vegan recipes for several Harry Potter delicacies such asbutterbeer.[128]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Luna Lovegood | |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | ||
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | ||
| 2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | ||
| 2013 | G.B.F. | McKenzie Pryce | |
| 2015 | Addiction: A 60's Love Story | Theresa Bornstein | |
| My Name Is Emily | Emily Egan | ||
| 2019 | Madness in the Method | Abbie Fox | |
| 2024 | My Freaky Family | Betty Flood | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sinbad | Alehna | Episode: "Land of the Dead" |
| 2013 | Apex | Regan | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2015 | Danny and the Human Zoo | Bridget Riordan | Television film |
| 2018 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself (contestant) | Third place |
| 2019 | Middle School Moguls | Academy Voice / Tablet / Lunchbox (voice) | Episode: "The Making of a Mogul" |
| 2020 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Gentry (voice) | Episode: "Donnie vs. Witch Town" |
| 2021 | Silent Witness | Paisley Robertson | Episode: "Redemption" (2 parts) |
| 2022 | Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts | Herself | Television special |
| 2024 | Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking | Herself | Television game show |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | It Don't Come Easy | Ella | |
| 2019 | Lucia Joyce: Full Capacity | Lucia Joyce | |
| 2020 | Europeans: Donnú Bréige (Fake Tan) | Róisín | |
| 2021 | Other Half | Icarus | animated short |
| You Eat Other Animals? | Alien Queen | Released for World Vegan Day 2021[129] | |
| 2022 | Bus Girl | Beth | Jessica Henwick'sPhone Trilogy |
| 2024 | Sanctuary | Narrator | animated short |
| TBA | Sandwich Man | Beth | Jessica Henwick'sPhone Trilogy |
| Gardening | Leonora | animated short |
| Year | Title | Role | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | DISARM | Daisy Decibel | Bry |
| Year | Title | Role | Production(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | A Very Potter Senior Year | Luna Lovegood | LeakyCon 2012 at Hilton Chicago andChicago, Illinois |
| 2013 | Houdini | Bess Houdini | Grand Theatre, Blackpool,Theatre Royal, Windsor,Stoke Repertory Theatre,Gaiety Theatre, Dublin andSwansea Grand Theatre |
| 2017/18 | Disco Pigs | Sinéad/"Runt" | Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, London (West End);Irish Repertory Theatre, Manhattan, New York City (Off-Broadway) |
| 2019 | The Omission of the Family Coleman | Gaby | Theatre Royal, Bath, England (Off West End) |
| Games for Lovers | Martha | The Vaults Theatre, London | |
| 2021 | Calico | Lucia Joyce | Rehearsed reading produced viaZoom forBloomsday 2021[130] |
| 2023 | Under the Black Rock | Niamh Ryan | Arcola Theatre, London |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Foster | Narrator | novella byClaire Keegan, broadcast in 3 parts onBBC Radio 4[131][132] |
| 2017–2021 | The ChickPeeps | Co-Host | Podcast with Tylor Starr,Robbie Jarvis, and Momoko Hill |
| 2019 | Dancing with Lucia | Lucia Joyce | Radio Documentary forRTÉ Lyric FM, directed by Deirdre Mulrooney[133] |
| 2020 | Keep Your Eyes on Me | Narrator | Audiobook of the novel bySam Blake[134] |
| The Fountain of Fair Fortune | Narrator | Audiobook ofThe Tales of Beedle the Bard. Based onthe story byJ. K. Rowling[72] | |
| Obsessed with... Normal People | Co-Host | OfficialBBC Sounds companion podcast for the TV seriesNormal People[135] | |
| 2021 | We'd Need to Manage It | Narrator | Short story byNaoise Dolan, broadcast onBBC Radio 4[136] |
| The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting | Narrator | Audiobook of Lynch's own memoir | |
| Personal Space | Helen | Lead role; Radio play by Máiread Kiernan, broadcast onRTÉ Radio 1[77] | |
| A Little Kinder | Co-Host | Podcast withDaniella Monet | |
| Life Sentence | Eve | Podcast; 1 Episode[137] | |
| 2022 | The No-Show | Siobhan | Audiobook of the novel byBeth O'Leary[138] |
| Obsessed with... Conversations with Friends | Co-Host | OfficialBBC Sounds companion podcast for the TV seriesConversations with Friends;[139] also broadcast onBBC Three | |
| 2022–present | Just Beings | Co-Host | Podcast withMelanie Joy[140] |
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Young Artist Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Scream Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [35] | ||
| 2016 | My Name Is Emily | Irish Film and Drama Awards | Actress in a Lead Role Film | Nominated | [59] |
| 2019 | — | Lovie Award | Special Achievement Award | Honored | [141] |
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