Lina Leandersson

Lina Leandersson (born 27 September 1995) is an Iranian-Swedish actress. She is best known for playing the lead role of Eli in the 2008 Swedish romantic vampire film Let the Right One In, based on the novel by the same name. Early life and career Lina Leandersson was born in Falun, Sweden. She took an interest in performing from an early age, acting in amateur theatre performances, attending drama courses, and performing street- and jazz dance. One of her first roles was in amateur theatre performance, playing the mother of a spoiled girl wanting new jeans. In 2006 she appeared as a jury member in the Swedish song competition Lilla Melodifestivalen. The same year, she was selected as one of five from five hundred applicants to participate in Nickelodeon's programledarskola, which was televised in October 2006. Let the Right One In Leandersson applied for the role in Let the Right One In through a web-based casting service. After being contacted by child casting director Maggie Widstrand, she auditioned for the role three times before finally being cast. She was unaware that the role she was auditioning for was that of a vampire. "I was shocked", she later told Expressen; "I thought it was a more usual role." But as soon as she grew accustomed to the idea, "it became even more fun. I wanted to be a vampire when I was little", she said.