The Harry Potter movies are packed full of incredible British and Irish actors, but the Wizarding World almost featured one more famous face, as Saoirse Ronan recently revealed she auditioned for everyone’s favorite Ravenclaw: Luna Lovegood. While Ronan was an unknown, up-and-coming actress at the time, she has since gone on to become a four-time Oscar-nominated performer, known for starring in Indie hits like Lady Bird and Brooklyn, and adaptations of the beloved novels Little Women and Atonement.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Saoirse Ronan recalled the casting process for the movie, and admitted that she knew the part would go to someone else. “I had gone up for Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter years ago,” Ronan began. The actress joked that she secured an audition for the role because Luna Lovegood is one of the few Irish characters, and said “like half of Ireland [had] to come and audition.” Ultimately, the role went to Evanna Lynch, who has since become synonymous with the character. But Ronan knew she wouldn’t get the part. She continued:
“And I knew I wasn’t going to get it ’cause 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.”
While she didn’t earn a spot among Hogwarts’ alumni, Ronan shouldn’t be too upset considering her incredible career as an actress, and now as a producer. Ronan stars in and produces the new movie The Outrun, adapted from the novel by Amy Liptrot. Like much of Ronan’s filmography, The Outrun is noticeably darker than Harry Potter (even the last few movies which were literally dark), and follows Rona (Ronan) on her long and difficult journey to recover from alcoholism.
Saoirse Ronan Fan-Girled When Meeting Emma Watson
The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most popular and culturally significant in the fantasy genre. The films, based on the novels by J.K. Rowling, have achieved immense critical and commercial success, and have built an intensely dedicated fan base across the globe. Despite rubbing shoulders with the stars, and being an A-list actress herself, Saoirse Ronan couldn’t help but embrace her inner Harry Potter nerd after a surprise meeting with Emma Watson, who played Hermoine Granger in the movies.
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Speaking to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ronan said that she doesn’t hold a grudge against the franchise for not getting the role, and that Harry Potter was a significant part of her childhood. “I told Emma [Watson] that years later,” she said. During their encounter, Ronan became overwhelmed with emotion about the franchise, and couldn’t help but remind Watson about the significance of her part in the Harry Potter universe. She joked:
“I grabbed her by the shoulders one day and I was like, ‘
Do you know what you mean to us?! What your movies mean to us?!’
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- Release Date
- June 28, 2007
- Cast
- Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Alan Rickman , Ralph Fiennes , Rupert Grint , Helena Bonham Carter , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Michael Gambon , Brendan Gleeson , Richard Griffiths , Maggie Smith
- Runtime
- 138 Minutes