Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch Says JK Rowling Helped Her Overcome Her Eating Disorder

Originally known for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series, Irish actress Evanna Lynch is now a contestant on the US show Dancing With The Stars.

In the latest episode of the show, Evanna opened up about how she battled an eating disorder while starring in the films.

The 27-year-old shared with her dance partner, Keo Motsepe, that she struggled with an eating disorder from ages 11 to 12, just as she was cast as Luna.

“Anyone who’s had an eating disorder knows it completely takes over your life, and the only thing that could actually take my attention apart from that was the Harry Potter series,“ Evanna said.

She began writing to JK Rowling, who responded to her letters and became a pen pal before she got the role. She revealed that the author would write her letters while she was in and out of the hospital.

“Her books and her kindness really made me want to live again,” Evanna said. “I loved the feeling of creating and acting, more than I loved the feeling of being skinny or of being perfect.”

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Evanna said that the role didn’t magically abolish her previous anxieties.

“You are constantly having to choose between the negative voice that’s in your head telling you that you’re terrible at everything, that you suck.”

She continued to say that she couldn’t have been in the role had her anxiety continued in the same way.

“I could not have gotten through doing the Harry Potter films if I had continued down that route.

“I just want to say that once you put yourself out there and believe in yourself, things happen.”

To pay tribute to her time in the films, Evanna danced a Viennese Waltz to the Harry Potter theme song, Hedwig’s Theme by John Williams. She scored an impressive 27 out of 30 for the performance.

https://youtu.be/8ex8xxCCVwo

• Evanna Lynch