Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn’t Going to Get It’

Saoirse Ronan revealed during a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel that it’s been impossible to let go of losing out on the role of Luna Lovegood in the “Harry Potter” franchise. Evanna Lynch was cast as the fan-favorite character starting in 2007’s “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” She reprised the role in the franchise’s remaining three sequels: “Half-Blood Prince” (2009), “Deathly Hallows – Part 1” (2010) and “Deathly Hallows – Part 2” (2011).

“There’s things that you’ll pass on and then they come out, and you think, ‘Oh God, that was a misstep on my part,’” Ronan said, “but I think the one that stayed with me over the years — I didn’t say no to it, I just didn’t get the part. I lost, again. It’s a running theme for me.”

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“I had gone up for Luna Lovegood in ‘Harry Potter’ years ago, because it was like the Irish character, so they got everyone Irish in — like half of Ireland to come and audition — and I knew I wasn’t going to get it because I was too young, but I got to read out a scene that was gonna be in ‘Harry Potter’ and it was the coolest thing ever.”

Ronan might’ve missed out on the “Harry Potter” franchise, but she ended up jump-starting her Oscar-nominated career the same year that “Order of the Phoenix” came out thanks to the release of “Atonement.” The actor filmed the drama when she was just 12 years old, so she’s not wrong to assume her young age was the deciding factor in not landing Luna Lovegood. Ronan landed an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress thanks to “Atonement.”

Ronan has been making the press rounds in support of her new film, “The Outrun,” which is once again garnering Oscar buzz for the actor. The film is now playing in select theaters. Ronan also has a supporting role in Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” world premiering this month at the London Film Festival.

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