Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch was just 11 years-old when her eating disorder began to manifest.
The actor and writer struggled for several years with anorexia, with spells in and out of hospital including a three month stay in a facility in England.
In her memoir, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, she explores with breathtaking clarity, her path to recovery and her struggle to deal with the complexities and contradictions within herself.
In this episode of The Irish Times Women’s Podcast, first published in October 2021, she talks to Róisín Ingle about navigating all of this, while also coming to terms with the international fame garnered through her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movie franchise.
Now, more than a decade on from her introduction to Hollywood, Evanna lives in London where she feels, “much more centered” and spends her time between acting, writing and circus school.
“I don’t want to chase the big success… that’s not my dream, I think that’s a dream that’s forced on people,” she says.
If you’re affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, contact BodyWhys.ie or CaredIreland@gmail.com
