The actor who inspired Saoirse Ronan’s style: “What a babe”
In a business where so many child stars suffer grave consequences in adulthood, it’s uplifting to see Saoirse Ronan not only still acting, but thriving.
After early appearances in Atonement, The Lovely Bones, and Hanna, the Irish star wowed audiences with her Golden Globe-winning turn in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, one of the great coming-of-age tales of modern times. Since then, she has established herself as one of the go-to actors for both drama and comedy, and, at just 31 years old at the time of writing, her future is as bright as her name is hard to spell.
Ronan overcame the various pitfalls associated with childhood stardom because she knew that a career in the movies was what she wanted. Growing up on film sets alongside the likes of Stanley Tucci, Keira Knightley, and Cate Blanchett would have given her a unique insight into the world of film acting, but it was another name that helped inspire the youngster in the first place.
During an interview with W magazine, Ronan was asked about her cinematic crush. Rather than shout out her husband, Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, she instead took a different route. “I have my girl crush,” she said. “It’s Robin Wright, hands down. What a babe.”
How Robin Wright became a role model for Saoirse Ronan
Film fans will probably know Wright from one of two roles: Buttercup, the titular character in Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride, or Jenny Curran, the complicated love interest from the Oscar-winning mega-hit Forrest Gump. In the 21st Century, she’s been more of a TV actor, notably playing Claire Underwood in House of Cards, which made her one of the highest-paid actors in the US. She hasn’t completely abandoned movies, however, appearing as the Amazon Antiope in three DCEU films. She also had two prominent gigs in 2024, one in the Netflix movie Damsel and another in Robert Zemeckis’ Here, which re-teamed her with Tom Hanks.
It turns out that Ronan’s appreciation for Wright is just as professional as it is personal. “I always refer back to Robin when I talk about the style of acting that I really like,” she confessed. “I think it’s always really interesting when you see someone who has this air of mystery to them and they keep something to themselves. The great thing about film is that you know the lens is right there; it’s not gonna miss anything that’s going on. And so it’s quite fun to keep something for yourself, and it means that you’re always wanting more from that person. So I love Robin; I think she’s great.”
Another way in which Ronan has emulated her idol is in her philanthropy. Both stars are outspoken advocates of good causes. Wright has been an advocate for human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo for many years, even narrating a documentary about the subject in 2015. As for Ronan, she made headlines in 2024 when she commented on the state of women and girls’ safety on The Graham Norton Show.
As it stands, Ronan and Wright have yet to work together. Considering their combined popularity and shared positions of prominence within Hollywood, surely it’s only a matter of time before they are cast in the same project. As long as Ronan keeps her fangirling to a minimum, things should be ok.
