Saoirse Ronan says losing Luna Lovegood role in ‘Harry Potter’ has “stayed with me over the years”

Saoirse Ronan has said that losing out on the part of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films has “stayed with me over the years”.

The Lady Bird star had auditioned for the role ahead of the release of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007), but was unsuccessful, with Evanna Lynch going on to play the role in the final four instalments in the series.

Ronan revealed her disappointment during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 3.

“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,’” she 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.

“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, who has been nominated for an Oscar four times (for Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women) is currently starring in the critically acclaimed addiction drama The Outrun, for which she is receiving yet more Oscar buzz.

Directed by Nora Fingscheidt and adapted from Amy Liptrot’s 2016 memoir of the same name, The Outrun tells the story of a young woman named Rona who, after finishing rehab for alcoholism, returns home to the Orkney Islands in Scotland in an attempt to stay sober. The film is in cinemas now.

The actor is also set to star in a supporting role in Steve McQueen’s new World War II drama Blitz, which receives its world premiere at the London Film Festival on Wednesday (October 9), before getting a cinema release on November 1. Paul Weller, Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clementine, Stephen Graham and Harris Dickinson also star.

In other Harry Potter news, Daniel Radcliffe recently paid tribute to Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away on September 27, aged 89. “She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny,” he said.

Casting calls have also been made for HBO’s forthcoming TV adaptation of the novels, which is expected to turn each of the seven books into its own series. Rowling is also said to be involved with the series, which some fans have objected to.

The show has been accused of “wokeness” by a section of fans for its inclusive call to actors of all races, ethnicities and gender identities.

It was recently announced that the series would see Succession duo Francesca Gardiner as its writer and showrunner, and Mark Mylod as director on multiple episodes.

Jared Harris has said he will not be following his father Richard in playing Dumbledore in the show, while Gary Oldman has said he would be up for playing the character “maybe in a few years”. Cillian Murphy fans have also expressed an interest in the actor taking up the role of Voldemort in the show.

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