Saoirse Ronan : Pronouncing Her First Name May be Tough for Some, but you may Want to Learn How to!

In continuing my trend with highlighting actor/actresses whose careers are on the rise, this week I wanted to talk about Saoirse Ronan.  The first time I saw this girl was with her wide eyed quiet performance in the film Atonement.  Atonement follows the story of star crossed lovers Keira Knightly (Cecilia Tallis) and James McAvoy (Robbie Turner) who are are seen in very passionate moment by Cecilia's younger sister Briony (Ronan).  Saoirse Ronan's performance was one of the best parts about the film; she is quiet, innocent, and plays the unnerved Briony Tallis with gusto.  The film follows Briony throughout her older year (Ronan only plays Briony for a short time, but she begins the the journey of the characters depth and outshines the other two women who play the character Romola Garai (18 year old Briony) and even Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave (Older Briony).  Ronan was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for this role.

The next role she had was in the Lovely Bones or as I commonly refer to it as The Lovely Bones: Special Victim's Unit.  This was a terribly adapted film from a a GREAT book.  The film follows the story of a girl named Susie Salmon (Ronan) who is murdered and raped and watches her family cope with life after her disappearance.  First I only recommend this film for Ronan's performance; she is great and continues her growth as an actress in this poorly constructed film (what a let down Peter Jackson.)  Ronan handles the characters pain and anguish as she watches friends and family live after she has died so with such raw emotional power.

Ronan was in a film this past year (2010) The Way Back with Ed Harris - which I have not seen yet because good movies never come to northwest Ohio, but she got great reviews in that and I plan to follow her career.  She also has new movie coming out on April 15th called Hanna where she looks like she kicks butt.  She also has another assassin type film entitled Violet & Daisy from Geoffrey Flecther (the first African American to win an Oscar for a screenplay-which was in 2009 for Precious).  Ronan plays Itaril in The Hobbit Part and Part 2 which is bound to elevate her name.  Her final project that is is the works is The Brothers Grimm: Snow White where she will play Snow White, Armie Hammer (The Social Network) will play the prince and Julia Roberts will play the evil queen-what more could you ask for!

(the trailer for Hanna)

Ronan is certainly a star on the rise and I hope continues to elevate her acting and one day land an Oscar win, instead of just a nomination.