Saoirse Ronan may be one of Hollywood’s most talented and sought-after actresses, but even she gets a little lost in the whirlwind of international press tours. Promoting two major films—The Outrun and Blitz—the genial Irish star has been crisscrossing continents for weeks, and it’s left her feeling a bit delirious.
“I only just got in from London, so I’m a bit like, ‘Who am I? What am I saying?’” Ronan joked recently, curled up on a green-room couch during a press stop. But despite the hectic schedule, she’s excited to be back in the spotlight. “I haven’t really done this in so long. I’m ready to be out there again.”
This marks Ronan’s first major promotional effort since 2019’s Little Women. Although she’s appeared in a few films since, COVID-19 delays and Hollywood strikes had put her public appearances on hold. Fans were both surprised and thrilled to see Ronan at the recent Emmy Awards, where she showed up with her new husband, actor Jack Lowden.
“Because I’m never out of the house!” Ronan, 30, quipped with a hearty laugh. “In a way, it’s true. I haven’t really done this in so long.”
Exploring Addiction in The Outrun
In her latest film, The Outrun (in theaters Friday), Ronan takes on one of her most emotionally intense roles to date. The movie, adapted from Amy Liptrot’s memoir, follows Rona, a young woman who returns home to Scotland to get sober after hard-partying her life away in London. The film dives deep into addiction and recovery, offering a perspective rarely seen in Hollywood—through the eyes of a young woman.
Ronan was drawn to the rawness of the character. “You’re watching someone who is cruel, nasty, a terrible daughter and a bad lover, who has lost all touch with what’s important in life,” she said. For Ronan, it was important to explore these flaws honestly, without the societal pressure women often face to maintain a “pure façade.”
To prepare for the role, Ronan attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and spoke extensively with Liptrot, who opened up about her own emotional struggles during recovery. “Amy said when she was in rehab, she just couldn’t stop crying. There was a lot that needed to come to the surface,” Ronan recalled. The experience helped the actress understand the emotional complexities of addiction.
Filming on the remote Scottish island came with its own challenges. Ronan learned a variety of new skills, including delivering seven newborn lambs. “I was terrified of killing those baby lambs!” she said with a laugh.
A WWII Epic with Blitz
On top of The Outrun, Ronan also stars in Blitz, an intimate World War II epic directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave). Set during the Blitzkrieg bombing campaign of 1940s London, Ronan plays Rita, a resilient single mother who works in an arms factory and dreams of being a singer.
Ronan’s musical talents take center stage in the film, with her character performing jazz standards and even delivering an original song to her 9-year-old son. But singing in front of a large audience was daunting for the actress. “I get very nervous singing in front of anyone,” she admitted, noting how important music is to her character and to the war-torn community she inhabits.
If early Oscar predictions are any indication, Ronan could become the youngest-ever double acting nominee for The Outrun and Blitz. No stranger to the Oscars, Ronan was first nominated at just 13 years old for Atonement, and she has since earned three additional nominations for her roles in Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women.
Partnering with Jack Lowden—On and Off Screen
Fans were delighted to see Ronan step out with her new husband, Jack Lowden, at the Emmy Awards. The pair met while filming Mary, Queen of Scots, where Lowden played Lord Darnley, the queen’s second husband. Now married, the couple has not only shared the screen but also produced The Outrun together, with Lowden reading the book during lockdown and helping to bring the film adaptation to life.
As collaborators, Ronan said, “Jack is a lot calmer than I am. He’s my voice of reason.” Together, they’re looking for other projects to produce, particularly ones set in Lowden’s native Scotland. And while Lowden wasn’t keen on acting alongside Ronan again, she’s convinced him that working together—especially on stage—would be a great idea.
A New Chapter at 30
At 30, Ronan feels more settled in her personal life than ever before. “My life has become so much more than just work,” she said, reflecting on her early years, when acting was her primary way of connecting with the world. Now, she enjoys quieter moments with Lowden and their dog, Stella, and relishes days spent hiking and swimming in nature.
After years of focusing solely on her career, Ronan now values her friendships and personal life as much as her professional achievements. “I feel like I’m part of a group, which I never thought I would have,” she admitted. “For a long time, that’s all I did; that’s how I met people and made sense of the world. So now, to feel like I’ve got a very rich personal and social life – it’s so precious to me.”
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