How Harry Potter star Natalia Tena graduated to Game of Thrones

Natalia Tena as Osha in Game of Thrones.

Being part of two of the biggest fantasy franchises of all time is all just luck, according to one actress.

Natalia Tena, known for her roles as Tonks in Harry Potter and Osha in Game of Thrones, is in town for Auckland's Armageddon expo this weekend.

The British actress attends around three fan conventions a year, and says the fans she encounters from both franchises are quite different.

"I love the Harry Potter kids. There's a lot of children. Obviously Game of Thrones isn't very suitable for children.

"With Game of Thrones, it's anyone and everyone. You never know who's going to like it. It's really nice to have a balance of who's going to come up and each time it's a little bit different."

Tena as Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series.

Tena says she never expected any of this when she got her first big break in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

"I'm incredibly lucky to even be cast. I didn't really know how big Harry Potter was, I hadn't even read it. I was overwhelmed by the sets. I got there and I was like 'Oh my god, what is this?'

"I still didn't really get it. It was only when I went to the first premiere that I went, okay, this is actually really big."

Working on these fantasy projects means dealing with a lot of CGI, which Tena says can be an awkward experience.

"In Half-Blood Prince, we're at [Weasley's] and there's that big fire snake, and there was nothing there [for us to look at]. Me and David [Thewlis, Remus Lupin] were trying not to piss ourselves laughing.

"It's three in the morning and in the middle of nowhere, and it's like, 'This is so mad'."

Since Potter ended, Tena starred in three seasons of Game of Thrones as wildling Osha. The character departed at the end of the third season, but rumours are swirling she'll return in season six after being spotted near the set.

However, Tena wouldn't comment on her involvement.

Her focus is on her new album coming out next year. Tena is the lead singer for band Molotov Jukebox, and their new album Tropical Gyspy comes out in April. She hopes to come back to New Zealand to tour it.

The Armageddon Expo kicks off tonight at ASB Showgrounds, and runs until Monday.

- nzherald.co.nz