Evanna Lynch Says J.K. Rowling Helped Her Overcome Eating Disorder

Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, has revealed how J.K. Rowling helped her to overcome an eating disorder.

The actress spoke openly during an episode of Dancing With The Stars about how she struggled with an eating disorder between the ages of 11 and 12.

Evanna struggled just as she was cast as Luna, however J.k. Rowling helped her before she auditioned for the role.

She explained how she was always a huge fan of the Harry Potter franchise and that she had always felt a connection to Luna.

Anorexia led to Evanna spending up to two years in clinics from 2006 but she took great comfort from the Harry Potter books.

She said that the books made her want to live again so she sent a letter to J.K. Rowling and from there they became pen pals, whether Evanna was in or out of hospital.

Evanna said: "When I was like 11, 12, I was battling an eating disorder. 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.

"I started writing to J.K. Rowling and she wrote back and we became pen friends after that. I was in and out of hospital and I would be getting these letters.

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

"We were pen pals. We were writing to each other for years, but then when the open audition happened, it happened within two weeks from the audition to getting the part and I didn't have a chance to tell her."

To pay tribute to her part in the films, Evanna danced the Viennese Waltz to the Harry Potter theme song and scored 27/30.