Saoirse – Ireland’s Newest Young Star

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Irish Voice Entertainment

Saoirse – Ireland’s Newest Young Star

September 13, 2007

By Debbie McGoldrick

IRELAND is certainly the place to come from these days if you’re a female teen with an eye towards a Hollywood career. First up this summer was Co. Louth native Evanna Lynch, all of 15, who had a highly acclaimed co-starring role in the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (She’ll also feature in the next film in the series.)

Now comes Saoirse Ronan, only 13, who’s got four films coming out in rapid succession over the next few months in which she’s starred with the likes of Catherine Zeta Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer and Keira Knightley.

Ms. Knightley, in fact, is predicting big things for Co. Carlow-born Saoirse, who she filmed the upcoming Atonement with. “I take advice from Saoirse, I wouldn’t dream of giving it to her!” Knightley said when they walked the red carpet together at the recent Venice Film Fest. Wow!

Saoirse’s dad is fairly well known in New York acting circles. He’s Paul Ronan, who lived in the Big Apple for 13 years and worked as an actor who scored some notable parts, including with Brad Pitt in the IRA themed movie The Devil’s Own. (In fact, Saoirse’s bio on the authoritative IDMB website says she was held by Brad as a baby, which surely means she’s destined for stardom!)

The young star got her first exposure to acting courtesy of her dad, who was starring on an RTE series called The Clinic and obtained a part for his 9-year-old girl. It’s been all onwards and upwards ever since.

“I don’t want to brag or anything, but I always found it came very naturally. It’s just easy. And I love the people you meet on set, and I just love doing it all and I never want to stop,” Saoirse told The Irish Times.

This youngster has so much work on her plate. She’s currently in Northern Ireland filming the Tom Hanks-produced City of Embers, which stars Bill Murray. (“Bill? He was brilliant, great craic. He’s so funny, always making me laugh when I was trying to do a scene,” she says.)

Atonement opens in the U.S. later this year. Also look for Saoirse when she plays Pfeiffer’s daughter in I Could Never Be Your Woman, appears in Death Defying Acts with Zeta Jones and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with Joely Richardson.

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