Evanna (represented by Cole Kitchenn in the UK), famous for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, said of the role: "After I read the script, it and Emily were all I could think about for weeks; it is so different to anything I've read and yet so real and dynamic, and it is an absolute privilege and a joy to have the opportunity to help bring My Name is Emily to life with Simon and his team. Simon is an incredible person and he is embracing challenges the like that no director has had to contend with before and it is awe-inspiring simply to be in the midst of that".
Newcomer George Webster (represented by Curtis Brown) plays her friend Arden. He said of his casting: “Not only is it an honour and a privilege to be part of the team that's helping Simon to realise his dream...but it's also incredibly exciting to be able to work with a script as good as this one, so early on in my career”. George will soon be seen in Channel 4's new drama series Babylon.
Described as a romance and road movie, the film is the debut feature from Simon Fitzmaurice, a father of five, who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in 2008, shortly after his second short film, The Sound of People, screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Confined to a wheelchair and completely paralysed, Fitzmaurice can only communicate to his cast and crew using his eyes and iris recognition technology which transmits his thoughts via a computerised voice.
"Making this film is the realization of a serious amount of work and love from my wonderful producers," said Fitzmaurice in a statement. "We are surrounded by the most committed group of cast and crew it has been my pleasure to work with. For me, it has been worth every effort just to be here on set in the calm at the center of the hurricane."
My Name is Emily was filmed on location around Co. Wicklow and also stars Michael Smiley.