A role in the record breaking “Harry Potter” films would have been a dream come true for any child actor in the past decade. Oscar-nominated Saoirse Ronan admits that despite her success, she is no different.

In spite of landing the leading role in the film “The Lovely Bones” and starring in “Atonement,” which won the actress her first Academy award nomination, she still feels disappointed for not landing the role of the quirky Luna Lovegood, in the series’ film adaptations which ironically went to fellow irish actress Evanna Lynch

The teenager, now 17, auditioned for the part five years ago.

“I was too young - but at the time I thought, ‘I’d love to be in Harry Potter’. When I was younger, I used to think they had the best job in the world,” Saoirse said to gossip blog ONTD.

The role went to  Evanna Lynch, who producers felt was the perfect fit for the role at the open auditions in London.

"I've basically grown up with Harry Potter, as so many kids my age have. It's kind of a part of my life. I'll go see it no matter what."

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Now that the series has wrapped with the last installment premiering last month, the blue-eyed actress can focus on her own bright future in Hollywood, with several projects in the works.

She has not the incredible following of the stars of the “Potter” series but she does have the respect and admiration of the people she has worked with in the past.

"Saoirse is the most focused and dedicated actor I've ever met in my life," says Joe Wright, who directed her in his film of Ian McEwan's “Atonement” and in this year's teenage assassin tale “Hanna.”

"She drives herself harder than anyone else ever could or would."

At a young age, she has established herself as an actor and despite her absence in the wizard franchise; Saoirse’s presence in Hollywood will be felt for years to come.

"At the age I'm at, it's a tricky time to try and figure out which is the best project for me to do," she said about her career transition from child to adult roles.

"I've never really felt like I was a child actor. Just an actor who happened to be quite young," she concluded.