Evanna Lynch made her film debut as Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). Luna is the dreamy, unconventional Ravenclaw student who becomes an important ally to Harry Potter and his friends.
Lynch won the role after auditioning in London in 2006 at age 14. She reportedly competed with roughly 15,000 other girls, and author J. K. Rowling supported the casting choice. Lynch had no professional film experience before joining the production; her previous acting experience was limited largely to school performances.
Luna first appears in the book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, published in 2003. In the film adaptation, she joins Dumbledore's Army and later participates in the fight against Lord Voldemort. Lynch returned as Luna in the remaining three Harry Potter films, making the character closely associated with her career.
A common mix-up is thinking that Saoirse Ronan played Luna. Ronan auditioned for the role, but Lynch was cast and portrayed Luna throughout the film series.