Saoirse Ronan Talks About The Outrun at Sundance Premiere

Saoirse Ronan, the acclaimed Irish actress, recently attended the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of her latest film, ‘The Outrun.’ Adapted from Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir, the movie explores the journey of Rona, a recovering alcoholic who returns to her home on the Orkney Islands in Scotland after a tumultuous decade in London.

During a conversation at the Variety Studio presented by Audible, Ronan revealed how she prepared for this challenging role and shared some interesting tidbits about the film. The actress mentioned that her partner, Jack Lowden, who also produced the film, introduced her to the book and insisted that she read it as he saw the role as a perfect fit for her.

Known for her roles in period films, Ronan discussed the difference in her approach to a modern-day character compared to a historical one. She emphasized the freedom that comes with portraying a contemporary character, as there’s no need to adhere to strict etiquette or norms from a specific time period.

As ‘The Outrun’ is based on a true story, Ronan admitted feeling a sense of responsibility in authentically portraying the real-life individual, Amy Liptrot. She expressed how challenging it was to strike a balance between honoring Liptrot’s personal experiences while also ensuring the story’s authenticity.

One aspect of Ronan’s preparation for the role was nailing the Scottish accent. Having previously portrayed Scottish characters, such as in ‘Mary Queen of Scots,’ Ronan mentioned feeling more in tune with the accent due to spending a significant amount of time in Scotland. She highlighted the differences between Irish and Scottish accents, noting that Scottish accents tend to be flatter compared to the round and muscular Irish accent.

Discussing her portrayal of a recovering alcoholic, Ronan shared that playing drunk on screen was challenging and at times, emotionally upsetting. To delve into the character’s mindset, she relied on music and physicality, particularly finding solace in Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance‘ album.

One of the unique aspects of ‘The Outrun’ is the incorporation of cathartic dance sequences. Ronan expressed her enjoyment and freedom in dancing on screen, even if it meant occasionally looking ridiculous.

The film also features interesting nature facts, which left an impact on Ronan. She mentioned the fascinating detail that humans share 60% of their DNA with jellyfish, and how her fascination with seals grew further during the filming process.

Switching gears, Ronan briefly discussed her acclaimed role in ‘Lady Bird‘ and the possibility of a sequel. She revealed that Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, and writer, had expressed interest in revisiting the character. While specific details were not shared, Ronan expressed her willingness to collaborate with Gerwig again for any future projects.

Finally, Ronan touched upon the planned film ‘Barbie‘ in which she and Timothée Chalamet were set to star. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, Ronan’s scene was cut from the movie. She expressed her uncertainty regarding the details of her character but mentioned that it would have been a peculiar role alongside Kate McKinnon.