‘Lovely Bones’ star is just an average teenager, Oscar nomination aside

Young rising star Saoirse Ronan is just 15 years old, but she already has an impressive résumé.

She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Atonement” at 13, and has already worked alongside big names like Keira Knightley and Mark Wahlberg. Ronan now stars in a new film, “The Lovely Bones”, directed by Peter Jackson of “Lord of the Rings.”’In a recent conference call with Spectator, Ronan answered questions about the much buzzed-about project.

“The Lovely Bones” is adapted from the Alice Sebold bestseller, which tells the story of a young girl, Susie Salmon, who is brutally raped and murdered. As Susie travels into the afterlife, she tries to contact her parents in order to bring justice for her murder.

Though many of her film roles have been adapted from novels, Ronan prefers to stick to the character as written in the screenplay because, as she said, “it’s a different version of telling the story.”

Susie is a typical teenage girl to whom Ronan said she could relate. But preparing for the intense role was a challenge—she often engaged in deep conversation with scriptwriters to ensure her interpretation of the character was correct.

Ronan explained that it can be easier to play a darker role—the opposite of her real self—because, having never experienced trauma of her own, she is able to imagine difficult experiences with a fresh slate every time. “The door is always open” to darkness for her, she said. According to Ronan, the role of Susie has increased her appreciation of what she has and who she is.

Exposed to “Hollywoodism”—being involved in the world of movie-making at a young age—is daunting for young actresses like Ronan. She described it as “nerve-wracking” but an honor, especially to be nominated for an Oscar before her 14th birthday. Ronan said she tries not to think about whether “The Lovely Bones” will also be nominated.

Ronan spoke highly of director Jackson, who she said left her free to make her own decisions regarding her character but was also “very involved with his actors.” She said that she has learned from all the celebrities she has worked with, taking away “the attitude that they have on set and the etiquette.”

Ronan is impressively professional for her young age. Though she has met some the most famous people in the world, Ronan—unlike the average 15-year-old girl—says she has never been star-struck.