Saoirse Ronan, the award-winning Irish actress, shared her fantasy for a collaboration with director Greta Gerwig for the upcoming Netflix Chronicles of Narnia adaptation. In an interview for The Wrap, Ronan let the cat out of the bag on her desire to be with Gerwig on the ambitious project about the magical world.
She said she'd be happy "just making tea" there. Saoirse Ronan has collaborated with Gerwig on the hits Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019). So, if true, all will be well with this Narnia collaboration.
As we await with bated breath her possible debut in the Narnia franchise, let's look at Saoirse Ronan's filmography, and present 10 of her top movies and TV shows.
Saoirse Ronan movies
1. Lady Bird (2017)
Saoirse Ronan plays the role of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson in the film Lady Bird, a fiercely independent teen in her senior year in Sacramento, California. Faced with the strain of her mother and the struggles of being a teenager, Lady Bird dreams of breaking free from her small town for an East Coast college.
Ronan brings angst, rebellion, and self-discovery. Her interpretation was nominated for an Academy Award. The movie's narrative, which is so touching, rides on Lady Bird. Ronan's skill was thus necessary to the feel of the film.
Where to watch: Netflix.
2. Little Women (2019)
Little Women had Ronan portray the legendary Jo March, a fiercely spirited aspiring writer in 19th-century Massachusetts. As the central figure among her sisters, Jo's will to make her own path, yet stay true to her family forms the very core of the film.
Saoirse Ronan, in portraying the strength, ambition, and vulnerability of Jo, marked yet another Academy Award nomination.
The chemistry among this ensemble cast, alongside the innocent determination with which she plays this role, brings Greta Gerwig's adaptation to life.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video.
3. Brooklyn (2015)
Brooklyn is one of those tales told from Brooklyn, New York, by way of a young Irish woman named Eilis Lacey. She is shown to have emigrated to the United States in the 1950s.
Unmoored and pulled between her roots in her homeland and an alien country called America, Eilis must repeatedly traverse love, loss, and life's challenges in an altogether different world.
Saoirse Ronan speaks volumes with an understated, yet deeply moving performance that captures this internal struggle of homesickness and one's personal growth. She even received an Oscar nomination for this.
Where to watch: HBO Max.
4. Atonement (2007)
In Atonement, Saoirse Ronan played the role of Briony Tallis, a young girl whose misunderstanding and jealousy directed her toward the false accusation of her sister's lover for committing a crime where he was innocent.
This decision has dire consequences, leaving the lives of many people changed forever. Ronan's characterization of this conflict-filled Briony earned her an Academy Award nomination: at just 13 years of age!
Where to watch: Peacock.
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Saoirse Ronan plays Agatha, the love interest and the bakery worker to lobby boy Zero in the whimsical Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel.
However small in size relative to all other characters, Agatha in the movie helps the protagonists uncover important information. Her dainty and sweet performance is the emotional anchor for Zero's character arc.
Where to watch: Disney+.
Saoirse Ronan TV shows
1. The Clinic (2003–2004)
This is an Irish medical drama, following the lives of doctors and patients at a Dublin clinic. Among the characters in the show is Ronan's Rhiannon Geraghty: a young girl struggling with certain issues while interacting with the medical staff and patients.
Her storyline thus introduces flavor and reflects upon the struggles faced by the youth within a medical environment and how their experiences are intertwined with adults' lives. The story used Rhiannon to depict family and health, thus, playing an important role in the plot.
Where to watch: Plex.
2. Robot Chicken (2014)
This animated sketch comedy series casts Ronan voicing multiple characters in its satirical take on pop culture. Often it plays to absurdity and parody; through her versatile voice work, Ronan's contributions enhance the bits here.
Adding a peppy flair to the sketches, Saoirse Ronan's ability to bring different personas to life gives viewers reasons to look forward to the series.
Where to watch: Adult Swim and HBO Max.
3. Saturday Night Live (2017)
Another of her shows was Ronan doing an episode of this iconic sketch program that would feature her impressive comedic timing and the ease with which she could elevate the experience of a live audience.
She added pizzazz to the show with sketches that showed her acting talent beyond stereotypical roles. Therefore, this fortifies her position as an all-rounder performer, who is likely to thrive in drama as much as in comedy.
Where to watch: NBC and Hulu.
4. Saoirse Ronan: The Story So Far (2018)
This documentary series takes a closer look at the career of Saoirse Ronan. It shows her journey from an up-and-coming young actress from Ireland to international acclaim. It features interviews with Ronan, her co-stars, and industry insiders, along with behind-the-scenes footage.
The series reveals some of the challenges Saoirse Ronan managed to overcome in Hollywood, particularly fame and the pressure that mounted.
What viewers will get to see is a comprehensive look at early roles and breakthrough performances that will show her growth as an artist and as an individual, all taken from this attempt to portray her life: an attempt which, above all, celebrates not her prosperity, but her strength in tough times.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer.
5. The Making Of: See How They Run (2022)
This behind-the-scenes series explores the making of See How They Run, in which Saoirse Ronan plays Constable Stalker. It takes viewers through all the work that goes into bringing a quirky character to life and how the fun is brought out through Ronan's comedic timing and chemistry with her co-stars.
Interviews with the cast and crew allow the film's direction, script development, and character dynamics to be looked at in depth. Thus, by concentrating more on Ronan's character, the series enabled her to move around between comedy and depth in a way that enhanced the movie.
Where to watch: Prime Video and YouTube.
Stay tuned to see if Saoirse Ronan officially signs up with Greta Gerwig's Narnia films. In the meantime, revisit some of these must-watch performances.