In a new interview Katie Leung, best known as Cho Chang to Potter fans, discussed her life since the films concluded as well as her recent honor at the BAFTA’s: The Breakthrough Brit Award. The award was bestowed upon 18 new-comers to celebrate their emerging talent. Read the full interview here.

“I wasn’t getting any auditions to start with and also, I just wasn’t sure whether I was right for this kind of career,” she said. “I fell into Harry Potter and I was just lacking in confidence. I went into photography and did that for four years, which I still love and am passionate about, but I just happened to get this part in a play at the Young Vic and that kind of set it all off again. I fell in love with being on stage and just gave it a shot and now being at drama school I know I’m making the right decision.”

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“Being surrounded by actors who had trained [while filming Potter], I felt such an amateur because some people try and get away with not training and I think when I was younger I felt like that was the case. I thought I didn’t need to train because I was already taking part in something that was so huge and only better things could come of it. That’s not the case at all. Having trained now and coming into the last year of my degree, I see the benefits and the difference it has made. It requires craft, you can’t learn without training.”

On winning the award, she says:

“It feels amazing. I’ve known about it for a month, but couldn’t tell anyone – it was a bit like when I got the role of Cho Chang and couldn’t tell anyone. It’s a great honour. I’m really grateful. In the past decade, I wouldn’t say I’ve done a considerable amount of work, it’s just that I’ve been lucky to get the opportunity to have done quite a few gritty interesting roles, such as Ying in Run and Mei in One Child. It’s great for knowing that I’ve made the right decision in choosing the right roles as well.”

Also, a video of her talking about the award may be watched below:

Having been plucked out of obscurity for Harry Potter, Leung decided to take on some formal training: she is now two-thirds of the way through a BA in Acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

“I can’t really believe it,” she says of her Breakthrough Brits selection. “As an Asian actor it’s very difficult to get work… I came really close to giving it all up. I don’t come from a family of actors, which makes it difficult to get feedback. But to know that BAFTA is backing me and that my work is being appreciated just means the world.”