Irish star Evanna Lynch has thanked bestselling author JK Rowling for being there in her time of need and helping her through an eating disorder.
Lynch, who starred as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies, is thankfully back to full strength both mentally and physically and is currently flying high on American talent show Dancing With The Stars.
The Co Lough actress has made it through to the final is one of the favourites to win the competition.
She revealed that before she became famous she battled with an eating disorder when she was aged 11-12.
Lynch told the moving story on Dancing With The Stars and explained how Harry Potter author Rowling had helped her.
She said: “Anyone who’s had an eating disorder knows it completely takes over your life.
“The only thing that could actually take my attention apart from that was the ‘Harry Potter’ series.
Lynch was a huge fan of the books and during her illness she began to start writing letters to Rowling.
She continued: “I started writing to JK 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.”
Lynch was particularly fond of Luna in the books and a few years after her illness she became aware of an open casting call for actresses to audition to play the quirky character in the movies.
She went along and ended up landing the role.
She said: “I love the feeling of creating and acting more than I love the feeling of being skinny or of being perfect.
“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.”
Take a look at Evanna in action on Dancing With the Stars, alongside professional dancer Keo Motsepe.
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling