As a fervent admirer of Saoirse Ronan, I can’t help but be moved by her unwavering commitment to using her platform for meaningful change. Her fearless portrayal of strong-willed women on the silver screen mirrors her real-life advocacy for women’s safety and awareness.
Saoirse Ronan’s most notable roles have showcased strong-willed characters who aren’t shy about expressing their opinions, such as in “Brooklyn,” “Lady Bird,” and her recent film, “Blitz.” The Irish actress embodies this fearless spirit herself. The Oscar-nominated thespian has recently voiced concerns about women’s safety, which sparked widespread attention. Now, trainer Paul Biddiss from “Gladiator II” is offering his personal insights on the matter.
On The Graham Norton Show, I found myself seated on the plush sofa with Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Eddie Redmayne. When Eddie began sharing tales from the set of the streamable action series, The Day of the Jackal, he mentioned learning from military trainer/coordinator Paul Biddiss about turning a phone into a weapon. The other actors chuckled at this notion of needing to use phones for self-defense. However, Saoirse Ronan interjected, “That’s something we women have to consider all the time, isn’t it? Agree, ladies?” This comment was greeted with a resounding applause.
Over the next 24 hours, the Lady Bird star’s comments garnered considerable attention. Amid that, a findings from a YouGov survey showed that women in the UK wanted men to know that they need a “greater awareness and understanding” of women’s safety. After the Golden Globe winner’s comments hit across airwaves and social media, Gladiator II trainer and Parachute Regiment veteran Paul Biddiss spoke to The Guardian, during which he agreed with the actress’ viewpoint:
As Saoirse pointed out, I was smack-dab in the thick of it – a pivotal moment indeed. My buddies, Paul and Eddie, were joking around about the far-fetched idea of using a mobile phone as a weapon, an idea I’d floated earlier. But Saoirse hit the nail on the head when she said that for a woman walking alone, a handbag – and all its contents, including the mobile phone – is always top of mind. After all, those everyday items can be transformed into tools, and with a mobile phone being constantly in hand, it’s an especially handy tool to think about.
More on Saiorse Ronan
Reflecting on those years since Ryan Gosling departed from The Lovely Bones, I can’t help but express my thoughts about the experience. Here’s what I feel: ‘It simply unfolded.’
The seasoned instructor has served as a military consultant on various films, where extras were used to depict forces from different periods, including Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and HBO’s “House of the Dragon”. However, he encountered a real test when collaborating with Scott once more for his highly anticipated “Gladiator II”.
Paul Biddiss and Saoirse Ronan are right in stating that a phone can serve as a defensive tool when faced with potential threats. By simulating a phone call, it creates the illusion of being connected to someone else, which might cause a pursuer to lose interest or back off if they believe the person they’re following is engaged in an active conversation. As Biddiss explained, a phone can provide valuable time for one to escape from a follower and its screen can double as a mirror, allowing you to keep an eye on who is approaching from behind.
Apart from the coordinator, many others shared agreement with the Outrun star’s evaluation. Paul Mescal, who collaborated with Ronan in ‘Foe’, expressed his sentiment on RTE’s The Late Late Show, stating that the comments were “right on” and “exactly accurate.” The star also expressed satisfaction that the viral moment occurred on The Graham Norton Show, allowing for more profound discussions similar to that one.
In summary, Paul Biddiss appeared thankful for the lesson Atonement provided about the necessity of women carrying their phones while walking alone in the streets. He highlighted his experience training actress Lashana Lynch in surveillance for The Day of the Jackal, similar to how WWII’s top-performing female agents were trained due to their resistance to being trailed. It seems that Biddiss’ training methods could offer valuable insights into personal safety strategies beneficial to everyone.
To observe Paul Biddiss’ methods, you can stream “The Day of the Jackal” via a Peacock subscription and wait for “Gladiator II” to premiere on November 22 as part of the 2024 movie release. Additionally, Apple TV+ subscribers can catch Saoirse Ronan’s performances in “Blitz,” which will be available on their platform starting November 22.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-18 17:07