Hey there, folks! Let’s talk about something magical. Remember Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series? Well, Evanna Lynch, the actress who brought that quirky character to life, has been on quite the adventure lately. She’s been paired with professional dancer Keo Motsepe on Dancing with the Stars, and it’s been more than just about the dance moves. Evanna opened up exclusively to Closer Weekly about how Keo has helped her embrace her true self. "He just gives me faith to be myself," she said, and honestly, that’s beautiful.

From Feeling Like an Outsider to Finding Her Groove

Evanna, who’s just 27, didn’t have the smoothest start when she joined Dancing with the Stars in September. You know how it is—sometimes, we all feel like we’re not fitting in, and Evanna was no exception. "I heard a lot of people [online] saying, ‘Oh, you’re too shy, you need to come out of your shell more.’ And I definitely started to feel guilty about that," she admitted. It wasn’t just the online chatter, though. "When I first came on the show, I noticed that other people became friends really quickly, and I was still really struggling. I felt like a weirdo. And that’s kind of something that just happened to me my whole life," she shared. But guess what? That’s all starting to change.

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Welcome to the Semifinals, @msevylynch! I’m SO proud of you partner and I can’t wait to do our Contemporary tonight, dedicated to your former director and close friend. Let’s do this! #TeamKevanna #DWTS
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A post shared by Keo Motsepe (@keo_motsepe) on Nov 12, 2018 at 11:04am PST

Keo's Encouragement and Tricks for Success

Now, Evanna isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, and with Keo by her side, she’s been slowly but surely stepping out of her comfort zone. "He said, ‘I was actually expecting this day to come, I know how hard it is to fit in,’” she recalled. Keo not only listened but also encouraged her to push through her doubts. And let me tell you, that’s a big deal. Keo, who’s just 28, even had a few tricks up his sleeve to help Evanna feel more at ease. "He would do things like ‘let’s go sit in the lobby now that we’re on a five-minute break from rehearsals, that’s how you’re going to meet people,’” Evanna said. Sure, it worked, but let’s be honest—getting out of your head can be tough.

From Country Night to the Semifinals: A Journey of Growth

Fast forward two months to the semifinals on November 12, and Evanna and Keo are still in the game! After narrowly avoiding elimination, they’re moving into Week 9 as one of just four couples left standing. "It’s been so great watching Evanna grow as a dancer," Keo told Closer. Their Country Night performance was a game-changer. "Last week [Week 8], she proved to everyone, but most importantly, she proved to herself that she has what it takes to be a dancer," Keo said proudly, recalling their first perfect score. "I could not be prouder of my partner."

As the competition heats up, Evanna and Keo are closer than ever to claiming the title of Mirror Ball Champions. Keo believes that winning would symbolize their "partnership, hard work, and growth, but it would also prove to Evanna that the strongest magic is the one found within," he proudly gushed. "That she has what it takes to make all her dreams come true and that all she needs is trust herself and her abilities." Now, that’s some powerful stuff!

Well, Keo and Evanna are definitely getting my vote! If you want to see the rest of their incredible journey on Dancing with the Stars, don’t forget to tune in to ABC on Monday at 8:00 p.m. EST for the finals!