Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in theHarry Potterseries.Photo: Everett CollectionEvanna Lynchis reflecting on some of her favorite Luna Lovegood moments from theHarry Potterbooks that didn’t make it into the film adaptations.Speaking withInsiderat thesoon-to-be-openedPotterflagship store in New York City, the 29-year-old actress and self-professed super fan of theHarry Potternovels recalled one scene from the sixth book,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that she was particularly sad to see cut from the movie adaption, because she believes it showed a crucial aspect of her character’s personality.“Luna says something like, ‘Oh, people don’t expect you to be friends with us, they expect you to have cooler friends,’ " Lynch said of the exchange, which takes placeaboard the Hogwarts Express train. “And Harry’s like, ‘You are cool,’ and she’s like ‘Oh, thank you, that’s really nice.’ ““I think that was an important moment … she is someone who’s so at peace with herself and accepts herself no matter what, but she really cares about her friends,” she added of Luna. “She’s got a really tender heart.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in theHarry Potterseries.EverettOther scenes she wishes her quirky Ravenclaw student got to explore on film include more interactions with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).One moment in particular is when Ron makes a joke inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixand Luna, a then-newly introduced character, bursts into a fit of laughter that quickly becomes awkward for those around her.“Everyone’s like ‘What is wrong with this person?’ " the Irish star told Insider. “I very much relate to that, being awkward, and I just wish I got to do that. It would have been so fun.““Ron and Luna’s relationship is quite intriguing ‘cause he’s always making fun of her, but he has moments where he’s like, ‘Oh, she’s not bad,’ " Lynch added. “I think she just finds him fascinating, and I just I wanted there to be more Ron-Luna moments.“Evanna Lynch.Harry Potter New YorkRELATED VIDEO: Take a Tour Through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle withHarry Potter’s Luna LovegoodPEOPLE also caught up with Lynch at the flagshipPotterstoreHarry Potter New York, located next to the city’s iconic Flatiron building. The shop will span three floors and cover over 21,000 square feet, and is the first officialPotter-themed store in the state.For Lynch — who famously beat out thousands of other girls for the part of Luna during an open casting call — taking part in variousPotterexperiences over the years is always timeless, as it allows the actress to connect with fans of all different backgrounds.“I love seeing people who appreciate all the details,” she told PEOPLE. “Becausethe people who create these things… they are nerdy about every detail, they know everything and they create new things specifically for these places — and only the true fans really appreciate those.““I find it very restorative and it’s a lovely, warm feeling,” added Lynch, who will bereleasing a memoirlater this year.
Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in theHarry Potterseries.Photo: Everett Collection

Evanna Lynchis reflecting on some of her favorite Luna Lovegood moments from theHarry Potterbooks that didn’t make it into the film adaptations.Speaking withInsiderat thesoon-to-be-openedPotterflagship store in New York City, the 29-year-old actress and self-professed super fan of theHarry Potternovels recalled one scene from the sixth book,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that she was particularly sad to see cut from the movie adaption, because she believes it showed a crucial aspect of her character’s personality.“Luna says something like, ‘Oh, people don’t expect you to be friends with us, they expect you to have cooler friends,’ " Lynch said of the exchange, which takes placeaboard the Hogwarts Express train. “And Harry’s like, ‘You are cool,’ and she’s like ‘Oh, thank you, that’s really nice.’ ““I think that was an important moment … she is someone who’s so at peace with herself and accepts herself no matter what, but she really cares about her friends,” she added of Luna. “She’s got a really tender heart.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in theHarry Potterseries.EverettOther scenes she wishes her quirky Ravenclaw student got to explore on film include more interactions with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).One moment in particular is when Ron makes a joke inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixand Luna, a then-newly introduced character, bursts into a fit of laughter that quickly becomes awkward for those around her.“Everyone’s like ‘What is wrong with this person?’ " the Irish star told Insider. “I very much relate to that, being awkward, and I just wish I got to do that. It would have been so fun.““Ron and Luna’s relationship is quite intriguing ‘cause he’s always making fun of her, but he has moments where he’s like, ‘Oh, she’s not bad,’ " Lynch added. “I think she just finds him fascinating, and I just I wanted there to be more Ron-Luna moments.“Evanna Lynch.Harry Potter New YorkRELATED VIDEO: Take a Tour Through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle withHarry Potter’s Luna LovegoodPEOPLE also caught up with Lynch at the flagshipPotterstoreHarry Potter New York, located next to the city’s iconic Flatiron building. The shop will span three floors and cover over 21,000 square feet, and is the first officialPotter-themed store in the state.For Lynch — who famously beat out thousands of other girls for the part of Luna during an open casting call — taking part in variousPotterexperiences over the years is always timeless, as it allows the actress to connect with fans of all different backgrounds.“I love seeing people who appreciate all the details,” she told PEOPLE. “Becausethe people who create these things… they are nerdy about every detail, they know everything and they create new things specifically for these places — and only the true fans really appreciate those.““I find it very restorative and it’s a lovely, warm feeling,” added Lynch, who will bereleasing a memoirlater this year.
Evanna Lynchis reflecting on some of her favorite Luna Lovegood moments from theHarry Potterbooks that didn’t make it into the film adaptations.
Speaking withInsiderat thesoon-to-be-openedPotterflagship store in New York City, the 29-year-old actress and self-professed super fan of theHarry Potternovels recalled one scene from the sixth book,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that she was particularly sad to see cut from the movie adaption, because she believes it showed a crucial aspect of her character’s personality.
“Luna says something like, ‘Oh, people don’t expect you to be friends with us, they expect you to have cooler friends,’ " Lynch said of the exchange, which takes placeaboard the Hogwarts Express train. “And Harry’s like, ‘You are cool,’ and she’s like ‘Oh, thank you, that’s really nice.’ "
“I think that was an important moment … she is someone who’s so at peace with herself and accepts herself no matter what, but she really cares about her friends,” she added of Luna. “She’s got a really tender heart.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in theHarry Potterseries.Everett

Other scenes she wishes her quirky Ravenclaw student got to explore on film include more interactions with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).
One moment in particular is when Ron makes a joke inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixand Luna, a then-newly introduced character, bursts into a fit of laughter that quickly becomes awkward for those around her.
“Everyone’s like ‘What is wrong with this person?’ " the Irish star told Insider. “I very much relate to that, being awkward, and I just wish I got to do that. It would have been so fun.”
“Ron and Luna’s relationship is quite intriguing ‘cause he’s always making fun of her, but he has moments where he’s like, ‘Oh, she’s not bad,’ " Lynch added. “I think she just finds him fascinating, and I just I wanted there to be more Ron-Luna moments.”
Evanna Lynch.Harry Potter New York

RELATED VIDEO: Take a Tour Through Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle withHarry Potter’s Luna Lovegood
PEOPLE also caught up with Lynch at the flagshipPotterstoreHarry Potter New York, located next to the city’s iconic Flatiron building. The shop will span three floors and cover over 21,000 square feet, and is the first officialPotter-themed store in the state.
For Lynch — who famously beat out thousands of other girls for the part of Luna during an open casting call — taking part in variousPotterexperiences over the years is always timeless, as it allows the actress to connect with fans of all different backgrounds.
“I love seeing people who appreciate all the details,” she told PEOPLE. “Becausethe people who create these things… they are nerdy about every detail, they know everything and they create new things specifically for these places — and only the true fans really appreciate those.”
“I find it very restorative and it’s a lovely, warm feeling,” added Lynch, who will bereleasing a memoirlater this year.
source: people.com