Evanna Lynch shuts down online trolls using Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood

'The clue is in the name, people!'

Actress Evanna Lynch has responded to homophobic trolls by calling in the help of her Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood.

Writing on her Facebook page the actress, who won the role of Lovegood after auditioning against thousands of hopefuls, told fans and followers “the clue is in the name, people!”

“Luna is a character who accepts all people and creatures in all forms, loves them for exactly what they are and who is constantly in awe at the diversity, strangeness and newness of each being she encounters,” she wrote.

Lynch wrote the post in response to an “ugly instagram thread” and asked homophobic individuals to unfollow and block her on “all social media platforms”.

The Irish actress was outspoken in her support for the gay marriage referendum last week, which successfully passed by an overwhelming majority.

The actress, who has spoken of her Catholic upbringing in past interviews, also drew a line between individuals’ beliefs and their actions: “Please don't for a second pin the intolerance and hatred you spread on 'religion' for no religion endorses the darkness you're spreading.”

Lynch ends her post by noting: “If you are one of the people who bred hate or revulsion or shame on my instagram post today then you clearly haven't thought very deeply about what I or Luna Lovegood represent and it's time for you to unfollow.”