Saoirse Ronan reveals how Jack Lowden persuaded her to star in The Outrun

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As a long-time admirer of Saoirse Ronan‘s captivating performances and a fellow artist myself, I can confidently say that The Outrun is not to be missed.

The Outrun is in cinemas now. Add it to your watchlist.

Since earning an Oscar nomination for her remarkable performance in Atonement at thirteen years old, Saoirse Ronan has solidified her status as a highly talented and respected actor on the global stage.

Over the following years, she received three more Academy Award nominations – for the films “Brooklyn,” “Lady Bird,” and “Little Women.” Now, there’s speculation that she could earn another nomination for her outstanding performance in the upcoming drama “The Outrun,” which hits UK cinemas this weekend.

Based on Amy Liptrot’s celebrated memoir with the same title, the movie presents Ronan in the role of Rona, a woman seeking redemption after battling alcohol addiction, who goes back to her rural upbringing on the Orkney Islands following challenging years spent living in bustling London.

This experience is a deeply emotional rollercoaster with tough moments interspersed with profoundly relieving ones, and in an exclusive chat with RT, Ronan shared that she felt this role was meant for her the moment her husband, Jack Lowden, who stars in ‘Slow Horses’, convinced her to read Liptrot’s book.

She mentioned that the book I’m referring to was originally owned by Jack Lowden and had been on his shelf for quite some time. During the lockdown, he eventually got around to reading it.

It seemed perfectly timed for me to have my first encounter with it. He immediately gave it to me and commented, “I believe this could be your next acting assignment.

Therefore, with the eagerness typical of an actor, I exclaimed, “Pass it on! I need to read it,” and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

She shared that what particularly drew her to the concept was portraying a tale about a young woman overcoming alcohol addiction, which is not frequently represented in written work or on-screen productions – specifically the latter.

She remarked, “I was aware it would offer a fresh perspective on a tale common to all, and this subject holds deep personal significance for me, as it does for countless others. It’s been a long-held desire of mine to explore it further.

What particularly caught Ronan’s attention about the book was how Liptrot crafted her narrative – she transformed it into “much more than a simple tale of addiction” by integrating themes of memory, history, and Orcadian folklore, and presenting events in an unconventional, non-chronological manner.

She commented, ‘That was truly captivating!’ If only we could figure out how to transform such poetic beauty into a visual medium, it could become something truly extraordinary and remarkable.

While the character of Rona shares several similarities with Liptrot and follows her real-life story, Ronan clarified that her portrayal isn’t meant to be a mimicry or imitation.

In the course of her journey dealing with a film being produced about a deeply hurtful phase in her life, I believe it was crucial for her to understand that certain artistic liberties were indeed taken. (Ronan)

Furthermore, we deepened the character, causing it to grow into a unique entity that went beyond just Amy and her book. This transformed figure, in essence, came to be known as Rona – an intriguing blend of three women uniting to birth something entirely novel.

Liptrout herself mentioned that they held a couple of virtual sessions with Ronan via Zoom. However, she also shared the sentiment that these interactions did not leave a strong or convincing impression.

She’s capturing more of the essence of my writing style and personality, which is almost like an enhanced, hyper-realistic version of me,” she explained. “It’s absolutely fantastic that she can relate to my writing in this way.

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2024-09-27 16:11