Lights, Camera, Actor: Celebrating the Career of Saoirse Ronan

Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan had her television debut in the Irish medical drama ‘The Clinic’ (2003-2004). However, Ronan first came to international fame after appearing in Joe Wright’s 2007 film Atonement, at age 12. When sitting down with Vanity Fair, Wright described Ronan as possessing a “kind of intensity, dynamism, and wilfulness” during her audition – ultimately cementing her role as Briony. Wright went on to say Ronan’s success as an actress was a “foregone conclusion”. This has certainly been proven by Ronan, who has gone on to be a four-time Oscar nominee, Golden-Globe winner (2018) and winner of the AACTA International Award for Best Actress (2020).

Moreover, Ronan’s role in Wes Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (2014) spurred her onto further stardom. Saoirse Ronan played Agatha, an apprentice baker and love interest of Zero. Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ was described as an “exhilarating and intelligent drama” by the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw.

In recent years, Ronan has become a frequent muse of American director Greta Gerwig, making her a significant figure within pop culture. Most notably, Ronan has starred in both Gerwig’s ‘Ladybird’ (2017) and ‘Little Women’ (2019). Both films highlight the universal experiences many young women endure throughout adolescence, cementing Ronan as a relatable figure to many young viewers. In Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic coming-of-age novel ‘Little Women,' Ronan starred as Jo March, the bold and creative second-eldest March sister. As previously mentioned, Ronan went on to win the AACTA International Award for Best Actress for her performance as Jo March. Additionally, by starring as ‘Ladybird’ in Gerwig’s 2017 coming-of-age comedy, Ronan was subsequently Oscar and BAFTA nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. In the same year, Saoirse Ronan featured in the music video for Ed Sheeran’s ‘Galway Girl’.

By taking on roles such as Jo March in ‘Little Women’ and ‘Ladybird’ McPherson in ‘Ladybird’, some may argue she is deemed a feminist figure within the film industry. Especially, considering her work with Speakers for Schools. In 2019, Ronan visited a Dublin school alongside Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink, to discuss the power young people have in the fight for gender equality and what defines feminism. Moreover, Ronan asserted that “Feminism is at the core of my life” and that she is hopeful that “things will improve for women in the film industry” when speaking to the Irish Mirror in 2018.

In 2019, Ronan starred in Josie Rourke’s ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ alongside Margot Robbie. The film was based on John Guy’s 2004 biography ‘Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart’ and centres around the threat Mary’s claim to the English throne poses to Elizabeth Tudor, following her return to Scotland in 1561. The film received mixed reviews yet was still nominated for many awards – even winning the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best Original Score – Feature Film. To conclude, Saoirse Ronan is one of the most celebrated actresses working in film today and by 25, she was the second youngest person to accrue four Academy Award nominations (second to Jennifer Lawrence).