Inside the life of Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch from famous ex to eating disorder battle

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is the newest addition to the magical franchise, and the competition series is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The baking programme is hosted by James and Oliver Phelps, who played the Weasley brothers in the film series.

Throughout the show, the bakers get the opportunity to meet various Harry Potter cast members, including Evanna Lynch, who portrayed Luna Lovegood, as she shares cherished memories from her time on set. Born in County Louth, Ireland, the 33-year-old actress became a fan of the Harry Potter books at the tender age of eight.

She has two elder sisters and a younger brother. Her uncle, Declan Kiberd, is a renowned writer and scholar of Irish literature.

Another uncle, Damien Kiberd, is an Irish journalist and commentator, and was one of the four founders of The Sunday Business Post.

More recently, he has worked as a presenter of news-discussion programmes on Newstalk and 4fm. Evanna attended Our Lady's College in Drogheda, where her father served as the deputy principal, reports the Express.

While filming for Harry Potter, she received tutoring for at least three hours daily to maintain her studies.

At just 11 years old, she developed an eating disorder and was hospitalised multiple times due to anorexia. She wrote to J K Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, expressing that the books were the only thing that could divert her attention from her condition.

Evanna Lynch, known for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series, recounted on Dancing With the Stars how her correspondence with Rowling became a source of inspiration during difficult times: "I started writing to JK Rowling and she wrote back and we became pen friends after that," and "I was in and out of hospital and I would be getting these letters."

She expressed that Rowling's books and kindness were pivotal in her renewed zest for life, saying "her books and her kindness really made me want to live again".

During the release of the fifth book, Order of the Phoenix, in June 2003, she was hospitalised but, thanks to arrangements made by her family with the book's publisher and the hospital, she managed to collect a signed copy.

In January 2006, at the age of 14, Evanna landed the part of Luna Lovegood after attending an open casting call.

Evanna's perspective on her craft over physical appearances is clear: "I love the feeling of creating and acting more than I love the feeling of being skinny or of being perfect," and she credits her Harry Potter role with validating her talents: "Being in Harry Potter changed my life because it proved to me that I could do something, that I had something to offer the world."

Besides acting, Evanna Lynch advocates for veganism and runs The ChickPeeps podcast with Robbie Jarvis, whom she previously dated. In 2015, she made their relationship public, and though they parted ways in 2016, they remain amicable.

Her subsequent relationships included one with singer-songwriter AnDel in 2017, but they are no longer an item. As of 2021, there have been rumours about her dating a Frenchman she encountered in London.

Additionally, Evanna hosts her own podcast, Just Beings, focusing on fostering positive and compassionate thinking.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is available to watch on Prime Video