Evanna Lynch

Evanna Lynch became famous through the Harry Potter series where she played Luna Lovegood - the best character name since Honor Blackman played Pussy Galore in a James Bond film.  She fit her character in the Harry Potter films so well that even JK Rowling has named her as her favourite, or at least most accurately portrayed out of the film series.  Since then she has made noticeable performances on stage and on screen. As well as becoming a prominent activist for animal rights and veganism she has also been a very important figure in promoting healthy self-esteem and body image for young girls, due to her own struggle with Anorexia Nervosia.  The latter was also the subject of her memoir published last year, ‘The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and Glory of Growing Up’ - for which I was commissioned to take pictures of Evanna to be used on the book sleeve and to promote the book. 

Evanna was such a dream to work with.  She was modest and softly spoken, kind and fun.  Working with Evanna was like working with a good friend.  A steady but easy pace, filled with interesting conversations about her experiences, success and struggles.  Talking about such issues as eating disorder from the perspective of having experienced it yourself takes enormous courage - and Evanna does this with brutal honesty.  


Shot for Headline Publishing

 
 

Elif Shafak

I had the pleasure of working with Elif in her house.  A place with an amazing living room where her office desk is too.  Elif is from Turkey and has written books like The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve and 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World.  Her literature touches on political issues, women’s rights, minority rights and freedom of speech.  Her political voice addresses issues around Turkish and European politics, democracy and pluralism.  Dealing with topics such as child abuse and Armenian genocide means she has made dangerous enemies.  A brave writer, yet not someone who comes across as being paranoid or threatened. 

Shot for Observer New Review

Liz Bonnin

Liz Bonnin is one of the best known faces of the natural world.  For those of you who are not familiar with Liz’s work, she at the forefront in the battle against plastic and reports on issues effecting the natural world. She’s a natural history presenter, biochemist, wild animal biologist, has presented Top of the Pops, and started her career by being a backing vocalist for the band The Pale. Yep - on paper that is the same as saying “living the dream”.  Not only has she done all the jobs I would have loved to do (apart from my current job of being a photographer, which is pretty epic,) but she is genuinely lovely to work with.  

As if she hadn’t done enough epic things already - on the shoot Liz was excited about working on the Planet Earth Live in Concert - a live show at the O2 arena. And what a show that will be when the Corona virus is finally under wraps and we are all allowed out on big events again.  At the moment that looks to be spring 2022.  

Shot for Saga Magazine