SnitchSeeker.com - Evanna Lynch talks Xenophilius, Lovegood house & Deathly Hallows

Evanna Lynch Fans had the opportunity to interview the Luna Lovegood actress recently, during which time she spoke about working on Half-Blood Prince, and getting ready for Deathly Hallows, including her opinion on Rhys Ifans' casting as Xenophilius Lovegood.

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Out of all the actors on Harry Potter, who have you enjoyed working with the most?
I would have to say I've enjoyed most working with the people I have become closest to. You hear of a lot of hierarchy and people being unwilling to engage with others because they are so concentrated on their work and personally I really admire those people who can strike a nice balance of being a nice, friendly and relaxed presence whilst also being talented, hard-working actors. I think it is essential to keep your feet on the ground and make an effort to work WITH people because actors are trying to portray real people.

I used to look up to people like Emma and Bonnie and Matt and found it hard to imagine myself fitting in with them. But they extended the hand of friendship and bridged the gap and eventually I was able to see myself as one of the cast. I like to feel comfortable and relaxed with the other actors because that way we can work off one another and it doesn't have to be acting, you can just be. It's like when you're young and you play pretend with a friend. You don't have that annoying voice of doubt that wonders what the other person is thinking of you and prevents you from playing with whatever character you are. You believe you and your friend are those characters so it is easy to crawl into their skin and just be. You can forget yourself.

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We understand you have a significant input into Luna’s costumes and props. What have you done for HBP? Do you have anything planned for Deathly Hallows yet? (In an interview you joked about having a spiked ball tied to Luna's hair. Was this actually a joke?)
I didn't do anything for costume this time really, Jany the costume designer is such a genius, I'd be afraid to interfere. They are still using my radishes though which is nice, I think they are staple now. I did get to design the lion hat however which I am very proud of. I had a very vivid image of how it would look and was so excited when the Davids offered me the opportunity to design it. I wanted it to look like it was eating her head and for him (it is a him) to look a bit wild and rough and old as she has such a pure, innocent and light hearted look and I thought it would make a hilarious contrast. He has a few earrings and dreadlocks which you probably don't see on camera, but yes he certainly has had a wild ride, many stories I'm sure.

I haven't done anything for DH yet, I've just been busy with school. Unfortunately, 'I was fashioning a woolen heliopath mobile' isn't an acceptable excuse for not having ones homework done. Though it should be. The spiked ball! Yes, that was a joke between the hairdresser and I! Has to be some technical reason for such a lot of hair, it could do some serious damage. I must take it up with David Yates... Perhaps that is a bit Lara Croft though, my money says we'll be sticking to those lethal jets of light.

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Is there any actor in particular that you think would be good in Xeno Lovegood’s role? Does your dad look like him? Have you heard anything regarding the casting of this role yet?
Has it been confirmed? Well, we all know anyway! I was over the moon when I heard. I was really boggled trying to think who would fit the bill. In the past I had pondered Jim Broadbent as a sort of amped up, frazzle-haired version of his character in the Borrowers, he was fantastic. But then they cast him as Slughorn and that obviously wasn't going to work.

I couldn't think of anyone at all and then they told me Rhys Ifans was cast and I couldn't imagine anyone more perfect. I am delighted and can't wait to work with him which has not happened yet! I'm sure many people would like to have him as a dad, my friends are all a bit jealous.

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Which part of Deathly Hallows are you most excited about seeing turned into film?
I imagine everyone will say this-the walk through the woods and Platform nine and three quarters. It was such an experience to read, such a catharsis, I remember reading it for the first time and I felt like I could hardly keep up with my own eyes rushing across the pages. It will be so exciting to see how they translate that experience onto film, to see what someone else made of it. And of course the Lovegood house!!

I have seen it being made from scratch and been in it and all around it and it is absolutely beautiful, much more vivid and detailed and alive than anything I could ever dream up even while reading the books. I hope they give it good screen time, it truly deserves it. I'm so excited just to see Mr. Lovegood in action. Luna has always been so different and jarring to those around her, it will be so nice to see someone with the same energy and hear his lines, you can't beat the Lovegoods for unpredictability.

The full interview can be read here, where Evanna also discusses her personal taste in music, her favourite quotes and her future after Harry Potter.