Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan

Ronan in 2015
Born Saoirse Una Ronan
(1994-04-12) 12 April 1994
The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Residence Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Nationality Irish
Citizenship United States and Ireland
Occupation Actress
Years active 2003–present

Saoirse Una Ronan (/ˈsɜːrʃə ˈuːnə ˈroʊnən/ SUR-shə; born April 12, 1994)[1][2][3] is an Irish-American actress. She is a two-time Academy Award nominee; receiving Best Supporting Actress nomination for Atonement (2007), and a Best Actress nomination for Brooklyn (2015). She also received three BAFTA Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, two Screen Actors Guild nominations and a Satellite Award.

She had her feature film debut in the romantic comedy I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007). Other notable film roles include City of Ember (2008), The Lovely Bones (2009), Hanna (2011), The Way Back (2010), Byzantium (2012), The Host (2013), and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).

In March 2016, Ronan made her Broadway debut in a revival of The Crucible, playing the role of Abigail Williams.[4]

Early life

Born in The Bronx, in New York City,[5][6] Ronan is the only child of Irish parents Monica (née Brennan) and Paul Ronan, who were living in New York City at the time.[6] Her father is also an actor, and her mother had acted as a child.[7] Ronan's family moved to County Carlow, Ireland, when she was three years old, before moving to Howth, County Dublin when she was a teen.[8][9]

Career

2003–09

Ronan made her screen debut on Irish public service broadcaster RTÉ, in the 2003 prime time medical drama The Clinic and then appeared in the mini-serial Proof.[10] During the same time, Ronan auditioned to play Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, a role she eventually lost out to Evanna Lynch.[11]

At the age of twelve, Ronan was asked to attend a casting call for Joe Wright's 2007 film adaptation of Ian McEwan's 2001 novel Atonement.[12] She auditioned for and won the part of Briony Tallis, a 13-year-old aspiring novelist, who irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. She starred alongside Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. Wright grew more and more impressed with Ronan on-set, and Ronan declared her role a "fantastic part [to play]."[12] Budgeted at US$30 million, the film became a financial and critical success, resulting in a worldwide box office total of US$130 million and various awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Film, Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama, and an 2008 Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.[13] Ronan herself received rave reviews for her performance, with Ty Burr of The Boston Globe calling her "remarkable [and] eccentric",[14] and was subsequently nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, ranking her among the ten youngest to be nominated for the latter.[15]

Saoirse Ronan at the 2008 European premiere of City Of Ember

Ronan's next film was Amy Heckerling's often-delayed romantic comedy I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007). Initially shot in 2005 in Los Angeles and London, the film went straight-to-DVD after it had struggled to attract financing and several deals disintegrated during its post-production in spite of its budget of US$25 million.[16] In the film, Ronan portrayed the character of Izzie Grossman, the pubescent daughter of a television show screenwriter, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who falls for a younger man (Paul Rudd), while Izzie falls in love for the first time herself. Upon its release, the independent project garnered generally lukewarm reviews, with Joe Leydon of Variety summing it as "a desperately unfunny mix of tepid showbiz satire and formulaic romantic comedy".[17]

In 2008, Ronan starred in both Death Defying Acts and the science-fiction fantasy film City of Ember. In Gillian Armstrong's supernatural romantic thriller Death Defying Acts, she played Benji McGarvie, the daughter of an impoverished and uneducated psychic, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who begins a passionate affair with magician Harry Houdini at the height of his career. Ronan was awarded an Irish Film & Television Award for her performance.[18] Released to a mixed reception,[19] the film was not a success at the box office, barely grossing US$8.3 million worldwide.[20] In Gil Kenan's City of Ember Ronan starred as Lina Mayfleet, a teenager who must save the people of the fictional underground city named Ember. The fantasy film, based on the 2003 novel by Jeanne DuPrau, received mixed reviews from critics,[21] and grossed US$17 million worldwide, well below its US$55 million budget.[22]

In 2009, Ronan was cast to star in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood but dropped out to star alongside Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones (2009), an adaptation of the book of the same name by Alice Sebold. Ronan plays 14-year-old Susie Salmon, who, after being murdered, watches from the "in-between" as her family and friends struggle to move on with their lives while she comes to terms with her own death. Ronan and her family were originally hesitant for Ronan to accept her role in the film because of its subject matter, but agreed after meeting with Jackson, who described her as "just amazing on-screen".[23] The Lovely Bones was released to mainly mixed reviews from critics,[24] who criticised the film's story and its message.[25] Critics praised the acting however, particularly Ronan's, whose performance Richard Corliss of Time described as "magic".[25] The film garnered various accolades, winning Ronan a Critics' Choice Award and a Saturn Award as well as a second BAFTA Award nomination the following year.[26]

2010–present

In 2010's The Way Back, directed by Peter Weir, Ronan played the character of Irena, a Polish orphan, who joins a group of prisoners who escape from the gulag in Siberia in 1940 and attempt to make a 4,000-mile trek to India. Shot on location in Bulgaria, India and Morocco alongside Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris,[27] the war drama film received generally positive reviews,[28] with The Telegraph calling it "a journey that feels awful and heroic and unfathomable – and one you’ll want to watch again".[29] Her performance in the film garnered Ronan her fourth IFTA Award.[30] In 2010, Ronan was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[31]

Ronan at the TIFF 2012 premiere of Byzantium

In 2011, Ronan starred as the title character in the action thriller Hanna about a 15-year-old girl who has been brought up in the Arctic wilderness to be the perfect assassin.[32] Co-starring Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana, the film marked her reunion with Atonement director Joe Wright, who was consulted after Ronan prompted the producers to consider him.[33] Driven by prominent dark fairy tale elements,[34] Hanna earned generally positive reviews by critics,[35] while Ronan garnered acclaim for her performance, winning her an PFCS Award[36] and another IFTA Award.[34] In his review for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers called Ronan an "acting sorceress."[37] In November 2011, Ronan took part in a promotion for the Irish Film Institute Archive Preservation Fund, in which she was digitally edited into popular Irish films of the past, as well as documentary footage.[38] In that same month, Ronan was announced as an ambassador for the ISPCC.[39] Also in 2011, Ronan was cast in the title role for Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Arrietty's United Kingdom release.[40] Later that year, she was in talks to play the woodland elf Itaril in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film series but eventually withdrew,[41] citing schedule issues.[42][43] The character was never recast and does not appear in the Hobbit films. She was cast as Kitty in Joe Wright's Anna Karenina but dropped out due to scheduling.

Ronan's next film was Andrew Niccol's film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel The Host in which she plays the dual main characters of Wanderer and Melanie Stryder, a human rebel who was captured and implanted with a parasitic alien soul.[44] The film debuted in cinemas in March 2013 and generally panned by critics, who called it "poorly scripted and dramatically ineffective".[45] Also in 2013, Ronan starred in director Neil Jordan's vampire film Byzantium, an adaptation of the play of the same name,[46] and in Geoffrey S. Fletcher's directorial debut Violet & Daisy, where she again played a teen assassin.[47]

Ronan's last film in 2013 was the film adaptation of the 2004 novel How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.[48] In the film, she plays a New York City teenager who is sent to stay with cousins on a remote farm in the United Kingdom during the outbreak of a fictional third world war. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, it was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[49]

On 2 December 2013, Ronan announced the winner of the Turner Prize in Derry as part of the UK City of Culture 2013, and presented the prize to Laure Prouvost.

Ronan appeared in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel as the female lead, Agatha, which co-starred Bill Murray, Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Jude Law and Owen Wilson, and in Lost River, the directorial debut of Ryan Gosling.[50] In 2014, Ronan starred as Leia in the psychological thriller Stockholm, Pennsylvania directed by Nikole Beckwith.[51][52] Ronan was considered for the titular role in Disney's 2015 remake of Cinderella, but the part eventually went to English actress Lily James.[53]

Ronan played the lead role of Eilis Lacey in the universally acclaimed film Brooklyn, directed by John Crowley. It is based on the novel of the same name by Colm Toibin.[54] The film was released on 6 November 2015, and Ronan's performance earned her widespread acclaim from critics. In January 2016, Ronan received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress,[55] while the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Personal life

On her name, Ronan said, "'Searsha' is how Irish people pronounce it, but I would pronounce it 'Sersha,' like 'inertia' ... It's Irish for 'freedom.'"[2]

In May 2015, Ronan backed the Yes side in the Marriage Equality Referendum regarding an amendment to the constitution of Ireland to mandate provision for same-sex marriage. Speaking at a "Get out the vote" event organised by Yes Equality, Ronan said "It’s like when black and white people couldn’t marry, Protestants and Catholics couldn't marry for a long time, and you think of it as being so ridiculous now... these are all things that we consider to be so backwards and dated, and it will be viewed as that if we get a No vote."[56]

She holds dual citizenship of Ireland and the United States. Since January 2016, Ronan has resided in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 I Could Never Be Your Woman Izzie Mensforth
2007 Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, TheThe Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey Celia Hardwick
2007 Atonement Briony Tallis
2007 Death Defying Acts Benji McGarvie
2008 City of Ember Lina Mayfleet
2009 Lovely Bones, TheThe Lovely Bones Susie Salmon
2010 Arrietty Arrietty (voice) English dub
2010 Way Back, TheThe Way Back Irena Zielińska
2011 Hanna Hanna Heller
2011 Violet & Daisy Daisy
2012 Byzantium Eleanor Webb
2013 Host, TheThe Host Melanie Stryder / Wanderer "Wanda"
2013 How I Live Now Daisy
2013 Justin and the Knights of Valour Talia Voice role
2014 Grand Budapest Hotel, TheThe Grand Budapest Hotel Agatha
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Herself Cameo
2014 Lost River Rat
2015 Stockholm, Pennsylvania Leia Dargon
2015 Brooklyn Éilis Lacey
2016 Seagull, TheThe Seagull Nina Zarechnaya In post-production
2016 Loving Vincent Margaret Gachet Voice role; in post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003, 2004 Clinic, TheThe Clinic Rhiannon Geraghty 4 episodes
2005 Proof Orla Boland 4 episodes
2014 Robot Chicken Various voices 2 episodes

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Crucible Abigail Williams Walter Kerr Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ The standard Irish pronunciation is IPA: [ˈsˠiːɾʲʃə ˈuːnˠə ˈɾˠɔn̪ˠən̪ˠ]
  2. 1 2 Symkus, Ed (7 April 2011). "Saoirse Ronan gets physical as action heroine 'Hanna'". GateHouse News Service (The MetroWest Daily News). Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Debruge, Peter (4 October 2007). "Saoirse Ronan Atonement actress creating Lovely buzz". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  4. ↑ Manly, Lorne (6 August 2015). "Crucible Revival, With Whishaw and Okonedo, Sets Broadway Opening". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Jocelyn (28 March 2011). "[Exclusive Interview] Saoirse Ronan Talks Hanna (part 1)". Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 Perry, Samantha (27 January 2008). "Oscar-nominated actress has family ties to Mercer County". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  7. ↑ O'Toole, Jason (22 January 2008). "Worth Her Weight in Gold". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  8. ↑ McGoldrick, Debbie (4 November 2009). "Saoirse Ronan is leading contender for Best Actress Oscar". IrishCentral. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  9. 1 2 Fragoso, Samuel (13 November 2015). "Saoirse Ronan on growing up and moving to New York". Vice. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Irish Teen Saoirse Ronan Cast In Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones". Irish Film and Television Network. 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2007.
  11. ↑ Rodriguez, Karla (4 August 2011). "Saoirse Ronan admits disappointment over Harry Potter Luna Lovegood role". IrishCentral. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Behind the Scenes of Atonement". WildAboutMovies.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  13. ↑ "Atonement". The-Numbers.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  14. ↑ Burr, Ty (7 December 2007). "The lies of others – A Wrongful Act Reverberates In The Sumptuous Atonement". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  15. ↑ Dirks, Tim (2013). "Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Facts & Trivia". Filmsite.org. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  16. ↑ Schwartz, Missy (8 February 2008). "Would You Dump This Woman?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  17. ↑ Leydon, Joe (21 February 2008). "I Could Never Be Your Woman". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "Winners of the 6th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards". The Irish Film & Television Academy. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Death Defying Acts (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  20. ↑ "Death Defying Acts". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  21. ↑ "City of Ember (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  22. ↑ "City of Ember". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  23. ↑ Villarreal, Yvonne (10 December 2009). "Saoirse Ronan of The Lovely Bones stays on balance". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  24. ↑ Quinn, Rob (11 December 2009). "Lovely Bones, Hits and Misses". Newser. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  25. 1 2 Corliss, Richard (10 December 2009). "The Lovely Bones: Dead Girl's Love Story". Time. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  26. ↑ "Leading Actress in 2010". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  27. ↑ Muldoon, Molly (31 December 2010). "Big Oscar Hopes For Colin Farrell And Saoirse Ronan In The Way Back". IrishCentral. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  28. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (23 December 2010). "The Way Back – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  29. ↑ Sandhu, Sukhdev (23 December 2010). "The Way Back, review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  30. ↑ "Winners of the 8th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards". The Irish Film & Television Academy. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  31. ↑ Karger, Dave (25 June 2010). "Academy invites 135 new members". [Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  32. ↑ Johnston, Sheila (1 February 2008). "Saoirse Ronan: On set with Brad, Keira and Michelle". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  33. ↑ Pilkington, Mark (6 April 2011). "Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana talk Hanna". Cineplex Entertainment. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  34. 1 2 "Hanna Official Site". Focus Features. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Hanna (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  36. ↑ "Phoenix Film Critics Society 2011 Awards". Phoenix Film Critics Society. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  37. ↑ Travers, Peter (7 April 2011). "Hanna". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  38. ↑ Ellis, Fiona (3 November 2011). "Saoirse's time-travel plea to preserve films". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  39. ↑ "Saoirse Ronan and Jamie Heaslip use their heads for the ISPCC". Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. 21 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  40. ↑ "Ghibli's Arrietty to Have Different Dub Casts in U.S., U.K.". Anime News Network. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  41. ↑ "Saoirse Ronan's Hobbit holiday". The Belfast Telegraph. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  42. ↑ de Semlyen, Phil (9 May 2011). "Saoirse Ronan Not In The Hobbit". Empire. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Saoirse Ronan Has 'Always Fancied' Being An Elf In The Hobbit". MTV. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  44. ↑ Fleming, Mike (3 May 2011). "Twilight Saga Author Stephenie Meyer's The Host Lands Saoirse Ronan To Star". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  45. ↑ "The Host (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  46. ↑ Kemp, Stuart (14 May 2011). "Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton to Star in Vampire Pic Byzantium (Cannes)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  47. ↑ Kroll, Justin; McNary, Dave (13 September 2010). "Killer Gigs For Ronan, Gandolfini". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  48. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (13 December 2011). "Saoirse Ronan circles How I Live Now". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  49. ↑ "How I Live Now". TIFF. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  50. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (14 January 2013). "Wes Anderson Starts Shoot for The Grand Budapest Hotel in Berlin". The Hollywood Reporter. [23 June 2013 Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help). Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  51. ↑ Fleming, Mike. "Saoirse Ronan & Cynthia Nixon In Stockholm, Pennsylvania: New Actresses Cast". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  52. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (7 February 2014). "Saoirse Ronan to Play Kidnapping Survivor in Indie Drama Stockholm, Pennsylvania". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  53. ↑ Sims, Andrew. "Follow-up: Saoirse Ronan denies rumors of Cinderella involvement". Hypable. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  54. ↑ McGowan, Sharon (9 October 2015). "Saoirse Ronan's Brooklyn role tipped to bring Hollywood honours". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  55. ↑ Christensen, Aoife Ryan (15 January 2016). "Saoirse Ronan reveals 'everyone is cheering' for her Oscar nod". evoke.ie (Evoke.ie). Archived from the original on 20 January 2016.
  56. ↑ D'Arcy, Ciarán (17 May 2015). "Saoirse Ronan: Ireland ‘backwards’ if marriage vote fails". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

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