Saoirse Ronan
Ronan at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival
Born | Saoirse Una Ronan[1] (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 19)[2] The Bronx, New York,[3][4] U.S.
Occupation | Actress
Years active | 2003?present

Saoirse Una Ronan (Irish pronunciation: [?s?i?????]; roughly SEER-sh?; born 12 April 1994)[1] is an Irish film actress. She began her career as a child and came to international prominence in 2007 after co-starring in the film Atonement, which gained her nominations for Best Supporting Actress in the Academy Awards, BAFTA and the Golden Globe.[5][6][7][8]

Ronan has since appeared in several Hollywood films, including the children's Christmas story The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (2007), with Tom Berenger and Joely Richardson, the romantic comedy I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007), the film adaptation of the science fantasy Young Adult novel City of Ember (2008), Death Defying Acts (2008), the war drama film The Way Back (2010) and Hanna (2011). She was awarded a Saturn Award and a second BAFTA Award nomination for her portrayal in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones (2009).

## Personal life[edit]

Born in The Bronx, New York City, Ronan is the only child of Irish parents Paul and Monica Ronan ? the former an actor[9] ? who were living in New York at the time.[4] Her family is Catholic.[10] Ronan was raised in County Carlow, Ireland, having moved there when she was three years old,[11] and is a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland.[3] She is currently home schooled and lives in County Carlow.[12][13] As a baby, she sometimes accompanied her father on the set when he was working on such films as The Devil's Own[14] and Veronica Guerin.

Ronan supports the Irish Blue Cross, as the charity had reunited her with her runaway dog Sassie.[15] On her name, she said, "'Seer-sha' is how Irish people pronounce my first name, but I would pronounce it 'Sir-sha,' like 'inertia'. It's Irish for 'freedom.' I recently found out that my middle name, Una, means 'unity' in Ireland. And I think my last name means 'seal.' So I?m a free, unified seal."[1]

## Career[edit]

### 2003?2008[edit]

Ronan in 2007

She made her screen debut on Irish public service broadcaster RT?, in the 2003 primetime medical drama The Clinic and the 2004?2005 mini-serial Proof.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] She auditioned for and won the part of Briony Tallis, an aspiring 13-year-old novelist, who irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Starring alongside Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, Wright grew more and more impressed with Ronan on-set, who declared her role a "fantastic part [to play]."[18] 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.[19] Ronan herself received rave reviews for her performance, with Ty Burr of the Boston Globe calling her "remarkable [and] eccentric,"[20] and was subsequently nominated for a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, ranking her among the youngest persons ever to be nominated for the latter.[21]

Ronan at the premiere of City of Ember in Belfast in 2008

Ronan's next film was Amy Heckerling's often-delayed romantic comedy film I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007). Initially shot in mid-to fall 2005 in Los Angeles and London, the film went straight-to-DVD in the United States and other major market territories after it had struggled to attract financing and several deals disintegrated during its post-production in spite of its budget of US$25 million.[22] 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."[23]

In 2008, Ronan starred in both Death Defying Acts and 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.[21] Released to a mixed reception,[24] the film was not a success at the box office, barely grossing US$8.3 million worldwide.[25] 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,[26] and grossed US$17 million worldwide, well below its US$55 million budget.[27]

### 2009?present[edit]

In 2009, Ronan appeared alongside Rachel Weisz and Stanley Tucci in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones (2009), an adaptation of the same-titled book by Alice Sebold. In the film, 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."[28] The Lovely Bones was released to mainly mixed reviews from critics,[29] who criticised the film's story and its message.[30] Praised for the acting however, particularly Ronan's, whose performance Richard Corliss of Time described as "magic,"[30] the film garnered various accolades, winning Ronan a Critics' Choice Award, a Saturn Award and a second BAFTA Award nomination the following year.[21]

Ronan at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

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,[31] the war drama film received generally positive reviews,[32] with The Telegraph calling it "a journey that feels awful and heroic and unfathomable ? and one you?ll want to watch again."[33] Her performance in the film garnered Ronan her fourth Irish Film Television Award.[21]

In 2011, Ronan starred in the title role of the action thriller film Hanna, which marked her reunion with Atonement director Joe Wright.[14]

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, such as Once and My Left Foot, as well as documentary footage on the arrival of John F. Kennedy at Dublin Airport and the GAA All-Ireland finals.[34]

As announced, Ronan will play a teen assassin in Geoffrey Fletcher's directing debut Violet Daisy.[35] In addition, she will star as Melanie Stryder in Andrew Niccol's film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel The Host,[36][37] and appear in director Neil Jordan's adaptation of the play Byzantium.[38] As reported, Ronan is in talks to play Daisy in the film adaptation of the 2004 novel How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.[39] It was rumored that Peter Jackson has cast Saoirse in a role in his upcoming film The Hobbit, but Ronan later stated she would not be taking part in the film.[40]

## Philanthropy[edit]

Ronan is an ambassador for the ISPCC, alongside Jamie Heaslip.[41]

## Filmography[edit]

Year | Title | Role | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
2003?2004 | The Clinic | Rhiannon Geraghty | 4 Episodes
2005 | Proof | Orla Kelly | 4 Episodes
2007 | The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey | Celia Hardwick |
Atonement | Briony Tallis (age 13) | Irish Film Television Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Youth in Film ? Female Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role ? Female Nominated ? Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated ? BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated ? Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Actress Nominated ? Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated ? Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress ? Motion Picture Nominated ? London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated ? London Film Critics Circle Award for British Breakthrough ? Acting Nominated ? Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated ? Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress ? Motion Picture Nominated ? Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
I Could Never Be Your Woman | Izzie |
2008 | Death Defying Acts | Benji | Irish Film Television Award for Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated ? Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actress
City of Ember | Lina Mayfleet | Nominated ? Irish Film Television Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role
2009 | The Lovely Bones | Susie Salmon | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Actress Irish Film Television Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Youth in Film ? Female Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role ? Female Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated ? BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated ? Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated ? Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated ? Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated ? London Critics Circle Film Award for Young British Performer of the Year Nominated ? Santa Barbara International Film Virtuoso Award Nominated ? St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated ? Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
2010 | The Way Back | Irena | Irish Film Television Award for Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated ? London Critics Circle Film Award for Young British Performer of the Year
Arrietty | Arrietty | Voice (UK version)
2011 | Hanna | Hanna | Irish Film Television Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by a Youth Performer in a Lead or Supporting Role - Female Alliance of Women Film Journalists - Kick Ass Award for Best Female Action Star (tied with Rooney Mara) Nominated ? Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Actress Nominated ? St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated ? London Critics Circle Film Award for Young British Performer of the Year Nominated ? Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated ? Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress[42]
2012 | Violet Daisy | Daisy | To be released Fall 2012
Byzantium | Eleanor | Post-Production
2013 | The Host | Melanie Stryder / Wanderer (Wanda) | Post-Production; to be released March 29, 2013
How I Live Now | Daisy | post production
The Grand Budapest Hotel | Lead | pre-production

## Further reading[edit]

- Cluain Dolcain: A Brief Note, Charles Doherty, in Seanchas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne, pp.?182?188, edited by Alfred P. Smyth, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2000. ISBN 978-1-85182-489-2

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Symkus, Ed (April 7, 2011). "Saoirse Ronan gets physical as action heroine ?Hanna?". GateHouse News Service (The MetroWest Daily News). Retrieved April 12, 2011.
2. ^ Peter Debruge (4 October 2007). "Saoirse Ronan". Variety. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
3. ^ a b Jocelyn (2011-04-28). "[Exclusive Interview] Saoirse Ronan Talks Hanna (part 1)". Retrieved 2011-04-28.
4. ^ a b Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV ? Oscar-nominated actress has family ties to Mercer County
5. ^ Saoirse Ronan on Moviefone
6. ^ Saoirse Ronan - IMDb
7. ^ Xan Brooks (23 January 2010). "Saoirse Ronan: A name to reckon with". The Guardian (Interview). "'You actually say it ?'Sairsha'...But you can also say it ?Sersha, or Seersha ? both are OK.'" But see also the following ref for variant pronunciations.
8. ^ Bernadette McNulty (16 February 2010 [print version: 13 February]). "Saoirse Ronan interview for The Lovely Bones: Bafta-nominated Saoirse Ronan, 15, talks about her moving role in 'The Lovely Bones.' [print version: Girl with heaven in her eyes]". The Daily Telegraph (Review). p. R9. "[S]he was named after a figure in a painting bought by her aunt from a Maze prisoner, which now hangs on her own bedroom wall. Saoirse (pronounced Sir-sha) is the Gaelic word for 'freedom'." Check date values in: `|date=` (help) See also inogolo:pronunciation of Saoirse Ronan.
9. ^ Paul Ronan at IMDB
10. ^ "The New Chameleon:Saoirse Ronan". December 15, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
11. ^ McGoldrick, Debbie (4 November 2009). "Saoirse Ronan is leading contender for Best Actress Oscar". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
12. ^ Xan Brooks (2010-01-23). "Saoirse Ronan: A name to reckon with". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
13. ^ Last, Jane (19 June 2007). "Irish girl on verge of stardom". Retrieved 28 August 2007.
14. ^ a b Sheila Johnston (13 December 2008). "Saoirse Ronan: On set with Brad, Keira and Michelle". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
15. ^ Saoirse Ronan champions Irish Blue Cross. RT?.
16. ^ Irish Teen Saoirse Ronan Cast In Peter Jackson's ?The Lovely Bones?, IFTN.
17. ^ "Saoirse Ronan admits disappointment over 'Harry Potter' Luna Lovegood role" August 4, 2011, Irish Central
18. ^ a b "Behind the Scenes of Atonement". WildAboutMovies.com. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
19. ^ "Atonement (2007)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
20. ^ Burr, Ty (2007-12-07). "A Wrongful Act Reverberates In The Sumptuous 'Atonement'". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
21. ^ a b c d "Awards for Saoirse Ronan". IMdb.com. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
22. ^ Schwartz, Missy (2008-02-08). "Would You Dump This Woman?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
23. ^ Leydon, Joe (2008-02-21). "DVD-Premiere: I Could Never Be Your Woman". Variety. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
24. ^ "Death Defying Acts (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
25. ^ "Death Defying Acts (2008)". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
26. ^ "City of Ember Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
27. ^ "City of Ember". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
28. ^ Villarreal, Yvonne (2009-12-10). "Saoirse Ronan of 'The Lovely Bones' stays on balance". LATimes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
29. ^ "Lovely Bones, Hits and Misses.". Newser.com. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
30. ^ a b Richard Corliss (2009-12-10). "'The Lovely Bones' Review: Dead Girl's Love Story". Time.com. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
31. ^ Muldoon, Molly (2010-12-31). "Big Oscar Hopes For Colin Farrell And Saoirse Ronan In The Way Back". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
32. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (2010-12-24). "The Way Back ? review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
33. ^ Sandhu, Sukhdev (2010-12-23). "The Way Back, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
34. ^ Ellis, Fiona (2011-11-03). "Saoirse's time-travel plea to preserve films". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
35. ^ Kroll, Justin; McNary, Dave (2010-09-13). "Killer Gigs For Ronan, Gandolfini". Variety. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
36. ^ "Niccol Directing Saoirse Ronan in 'The Host'". IFTN. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
37. ^ "'Twilight Saga' Author Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host' Lands Saoirse Ronan To Star". Deadline.com. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
38. ^ Kemp, Stuart (14 May 2011). "Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton to Star in Vampire Pic 'Byzantium' (Cannes)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
39. ^ Sneider, Jeff (13 December 2011). "Saoirse Ronan circles 'How I Live Now'". Variety. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
40. ^ "Interview: Saoirse Ronan". Glamour magazine. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
41. ^ "Saoirse Ronan and Jamie Heaslip use their heads for the ISPCC". 21 November 2011. Text "6 November 2012" ignored (help)
42. ^ "33rd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2012.

## External links[edit]

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to API.

- API at the Internet Movie Database

Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Noah Hathaway (1984) Barret Oliver (1985) Carrie Henn (1986) Kirk Cameron (1987) Fred Savage (1988) Adan Jodorowsky (1989/90) Edward Furlong (1991) Scott Weinger (1992) Elijah Wood (1993) Kirsten Dunst (1994) Christina Ricci (1995) Lucas Black (1996) Jena Malone (1997) Tobey Maguire (1998) Haley Joel Osment (1999) Devon Sawa (2000) Haley Joel Osment (2001) Tyler Hoechlin (2002) Jeremy Sumpter (2003) Emmy Rossum (2004) Dakota Fanning (2005) Ivana Baquero (2006) Freddie Highmore (2007) Jaden Smith (2008) Saoirse Ronan (2009) Chloë Grace Moretz (2010) Joel Courtney (2011) Suraj Sharma (2012)
Note: The years are listed as per convention, usually the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the next year.

Persondata
Name | Ronan, Saoirse
Alternative names |
Short description |
Date of birth | 12 April 1994
Place of birth | The Bronx, New York, USA
Date of death |
Place of death |