Street had the opportunity to catch up with Oscar-nominated teenager Saoirse Ronan about her new film The Lovely Bones , Miley Cyrus, and why she picks such sad roles.
Street: Are there any similarities between you and the character Susie Salmon regarding your personality that you can think of?
Saoirse Ronan: Yeah, there’s a few. I mean, Susie’s a typical teenage girl, so I think that hopefully when girls go and see this movie, they’re going to connect with her in some way. But, yeah, I mean, you know, she’s interested in photography and fashion, and things like that, and boys of course, so I’m interested in all those things. Yeah.
Street: Hi. How have your roles in Atonement and The Lovely Bones influenced your outlook on life?
S.R.: With Atonement it wasn’t that influential because it, you know, it was a bitter girl who’s very in on herself. And - I mean, I suppose that it would make you think more before you speak if anything, but The Lovely Bones in particular, just made me appreciate what I have. You know, that I’m lucky to be here; I’m lucky to have the amazing family that I have. It’s also made me more aware of things that go on in the world, these awful crimes that are committed every day. So, yeah, so it’s boosted my awareness.
Street: What was it like to be nominated for an Academy Award at such a young age?
S.R.: It was – oh, it was crazy. I was working - I was actually on The Lovely Bones at the time, so I was very busy with that. And then, suddenly this thing happened and it was exciting, and it was kind of nerve-wracking and - but you know, it was great and it was a great honor for me to be nominated so young and it was a film that I really enjoyed doing. So, yeah, I was really, really happy.
Street: How have you responded to all of the attention that Lovely Bones has been getting in regards to awards speculation?
S.R.: To be honest, I try not to think about award season at all, especially when it concerns a movie that I’ve made. I think, you know, nobody - none of the press has actually seen the movie yet, so it’s not fair to say, but it’s great that they’re putting it at such a high level already. Hopefully it does well. I just really hope that everyone enjoys it. That they connect to it as much as they did with the book. So, if awards come as well, then that’s brilliant.
Street: What should viewers learn and take away from this film?
S.R.: Well, I think that the message of this movie, although it may not seem like it to people who haven’t seen it yet, is ultimately hope, and how you get there. You know, when Susie arrives in the in-between, she doesn’t want to go forward, which would mean accepting her death. She wants to be back on Earth with her family and she knows she can’t do that. And to get there, you know, it’s about her love for her family and not the hate and vengeance that she has for her murder.
Street: You’ve done a lot of serious roles and I wanted to know why you haven’t gone in a lighter route like some of your peers, like the Hannah Montana type?
S.R.: Well, I don’t think I’m really that kind of actor anyway. I’ll leave Miley Cyrus to that. But, I think you’re right. I think it’s important that I do something a little bit more lighthearted. I mean, you know, the first movie that I made was a rom-com and it was funny and lighthearted, so yeah, it’s important for me to do something like that and, you know, there’s a few scripts that aren’t quite as serious as what I’ve done so far. So, hopefully they’ll work out and you’ll see me on a lighter note.
Street: So, you said that you haven’t really done a part like this before. Is there anything that has prepared you for something - for a character that has so many serious things happen to her?
S.R.: No. I mean, I don’t know. It’s really about putting yourself in the position. I suppose I was able to understand her pretty well and I think what I thought about was something I loved so dearly being taken away from me. And although luckily that hasn’t happened to me yet, I was able to put myself there. But, I haven’t really taken anything from anywhere else. It’s just been that one thing. And plus, the story itself kind of makes you go there as well because I think anyone with a heart is going to be affected by it in some way, good or bad.
