Saoirse Ronan on ‘The Outrun’ and Wanting to See More Flawed Female Characters

As a long-time admirer of Saoirse Ronan‘s captivating performances, her recent interview with Elle has only deepened my respect for her as both an artist and a human being. Her ability to embrace complex and flawed characters like Rona in The Outrun is a breath of fresh air in an industry that often shies away from portraying the intricacies of the human experience.


Actress Saoirse Ronan expresses her desire for more complex, imperfect female characters to be portrayed in films following her work on the movie, “The Outrun.

The acting career of the Irish actress has been marked by emotionally intense roles that resonate with young female audiences, as seen in movies such as Lady Bird, Little Women, and Brooklyn. Prior to her 30th birthday, she had garnered four Oscar nominations. In a recent interview with Elle, Ronan discussed her experience portraying Rona, a character grappling with sobriety, in the film The Outrun.

She remarked, ‘I was fully prepared and had the necessary self-assurance in my skills, as well as in myself.’ She didn’t feel constrained by the requirement to portray just likable characters.

Ronan found elements in various on-screen characters that sparked her creativity. “I felt a strong connection to Lena Dunham’s characters in ‘Girls’, who can be selfish at times, yet we all possess that capacity. I’ve recently begun watching ‘Hacks’, and I think, ‘These girls are self-centered and arrogant, but they always have commendable qualities.’

She added, “We’ve developed a pattern of distilling our personalities so extensively, presenting only a brief snapshot on social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter. It’s refreshing to imagine a chance to show, ‘This character can encompass both flawed and commendable aspects, and be portrayed in a way that acknowledges the whole spectrum’ – at this stage of my life, I find myself yearning for such authentic representation on screen.

Working on the movie, both as a director and earning her first producer credit, the journey of Outrun gave her insight that addiction should be viewed as an illness rather than a personal shortcoming.

If someone hasn’t experienced their mind being fundamentally changed by substance abuse, they may not comprehend why an addict can’t simply decide to stop living this way. They might not grasp why they don’t want to, or feel that it’s not worth choosing other things over addiction. This often leads to misunderstanding and resentment, which I experienced, and unfortunately still do to some extent.

For Ronan, the role held a deeply personal significance since she has close relatives dealing with addiction. By immersing herself in the mindset of someone grappling with this issue, she felt able to lessen its impact and facilitate healing.

The Outrun is now in theaters.

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2024-11-14 22:54