Saoirse Ronan turns 30: these are the actor’s 10 best roles to date

As the Irish screen star celebrates her 30th birthday, we look back at some of her top films, from Atonement to Hanna and Mary, Queen of Scots

Saoirse Ronan: The Irish actress's best roles

Lauren Murphy

When Saoirse Ronan was 10 years old, she made her first media appearance — although the world was not yet familiar with her name. Appearing on the late Gerry Ryan’s radio show in a bid to win a trip to Florida for her family, the audio clip, which was unearthed when she was a guest on The Late Late Show in 2019, displayed her abundant talent for performing as she breathlessly pleaded for the holiday in the guise of the Gingerbread Man from Shrek. “I’ve never had a holiday!”, she squeakily beseeched a bemused Ryan. She won the contest.

Two decades on, Saoirse — who celebrates her 30th birthday on April 12 — is well on her way to ‘national treasure’ status, being one of the most acclaimed Irish actors of her generation.