• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Saoirse Ronan says she was rejected for role of legendary Harry Potter character

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 18:04 7 Oct 2024 GMT+1

Saoirse Ronan says she was rejected for role of legendary Harry Potter character

The Outrun star, 30, opened up to talk show host Jimmy Fallon

Ellie Kemp

Ellie Kemp

Featured Image Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage / Warner Bros.

Topics: Harry Potter, Hollywood, Celebrity, Jimmy Fallon

Ellie Kemp
Ellie Kemp

Advert

Advert

Advert

Sadly, rejection is part of our everyday lives. As painful as it can be, it sure does help shape us.

Even celebrities - including the likes of Meryl Streep - get turned down from major roles.

The latest star to speak put about the set-back that's 'stayed with her' over the years in The Outrun actress Saoirse Ronan.

The 30-year-old recently told Jimmy Fallon how missing out on playing Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter franchise impacted her.

Advert

Evanna Lynch was instead cast as the much-loved witch, making her debut in 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Saoirse Ronan (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Saoirse Ronan (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

The franchise, as we know, exploded to cult status and was still among the highest-grossing franchises even last year.

Lynch reprised the role in 2009's Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in 2010, and 2011's Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Advert

Ronan told Fallon: “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,' 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.”

She continued: “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 going to be in Harry Potter and it was the coolest thing ever.”

Evanna Lynch was cast as Luna Lovegood at the age of 14 (Tristar Media/Getty Images)
Evanna Lynch was cast as Luna Lovegood at the age of 14 (Tristar Media/Getty Images)

Yet missing out on the Harry Potter franchise hasn't stopped Ronan from making a name for herself.

Advert

The Golden Globe winner made her feature film debut the same year Order of the Phoenix came out.

Ronan starred as a teenager in the war drama Atonement alongside James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. She was 12 years old when she landed the role, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her other major credits have included murdered teen Susie in The Lovely Bones, a teenage assassin in Hanna, and the supporting role of a baker in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

More recently, she's played Jo March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women and won a Golden Globe as for her lead role in 2017's Lady Bird, alongside Timothee Chalamet.

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
8 hours ago
a day ago
  • Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Cardi B confirms she’s pregnant with her fourth child after rumors sent fans into frenzy

    The Bardi Gang have been in a frenzy for weeks

    Celebrity
  • Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images/JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Michael Keaton sparks outrage with controversial Charlie Kirk assassination comments

    The actor has come under fire for his comments about Charlie Kirk this week

    Celebrity
  • YouTube/Breakfast Club
    a day ago

    Nick Cannon explains why having 12 children was a response to trauma

    The TV & comedy star reflects on past struggles

    Celebrity
  • Getty Images/Gilbert Flores
    a day ago

    Jamie Lee Curtis makes honest Charlie Kirk remark after 'disagreeing with him on everything'

    The actress fought through tears to make the remarks on Marc Maron's WTF podcast

    Celebrity
  • Harry Potter fans in complete shock after discovering 'insanely random' role Emma Watson has now
  • Meryl Streep recalls moment she was rejected for major Hollywood role for being 'ugly'
  • Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89
  • Lead actors for Harry, Ron and Hermione announced for new Harry Potter series on HBO