A piece penned by Harry Potter actress, Evanna Lynch, for The Independent looks at dealing with internet hate after appearing in the spotlight.

Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the final four Harry Potter movies and was cast in the role after attending an open casting call, writes about how people’s specific critiques can drive a person mad. “There is nothing quite like seeing hundreds of nameless, faceless strangers on the internet take a picture of you and ruthlessly analyse and tear it apart, pixel by pixel,” Lynch writes.

“Actual people discussing your hunched, guarded posture, or your too heavily bleached hair or chubby pre-pubescent cheeks. Awkward, embarrassing things, which were previously only tearfully acknowledged by a lonely teenager in the privacy of her own bedroom, now seemed fair game for all the internet to objectify.”

The actress says that these comments hit her hard after already being an insecure person. “The countless comments declaring you ‘too fat’, ‘too ugly’, even ‘too stupid-looking’ are perfect echoes of the vicious, hateful thoughts that constantly circle your own mind as an insecure young person. When verbalised, these thoughts seem all the more real.”

“Hidden behind obscure usernames, stripped of identities and flaws, these faceless voices accrue more power, somehow becoming The Voice of Truth. And when you’re 14 years old, a comment suggesting you don’t belong somewhere you already feel entirely ill-fitting can seem like the loudest, truest, most resonant voice in the world and can totally shatter your already delicate self-esteem.”

She goes on to say that overcoming online bullying is all about “consciously choosing light over dark.” The piece is particularly interesting given the fact that fans of the Harry Potter series were often very critical of the people who were cast in the beloved roles.

Read the actress’ full piece over on The Independent.