Little Women
Time Network Feature Article Silsa Ronan's path to fame began with period dramas and romantic comedies. Her groundbreaking performance in 2007's Atonement brought her her first Oscar nomination.
Over the past decade, her performances in many of her productions have received great acclaim. Gradually, her name appeared on the list of nominations for awards seasons large and small. But it wasn't until Miss Bird that she won the Golden Globe Award for queen.
Ronan's new film, Little Women, is her second collaboration with Miss Bird director Greta Gerweger. But this time, Time.com turned the spotlight of this exclusive interview at the Ronan behind the scenes.
Mtime: What inspires you in life to be an artist and be a good person?
Ronan: The people I met, and the places I went. Also, I think it's an inspiration when you watch a great work, listen to a tune, or read a book that sparks interest. I think it's those tiny moments that give rise to something that inspires, and you can't predict where they're coming from.
Mtime: What put you on the path of performing arts?
Ronan: In the beginning, acting wasn't a conscious decision I made. My father was an actor and he was working on a short film when I was seven years old, and they just needed a child actor. He asked me if I would like to go, because there was no one else to look for. I ended up acting, and although my father pushed me to do it a little, I immediately fell in love with the clutter of the movie set and the feeling that someone expected of you. Everyone is working hard for the same goal and wants to work together to win. So that's the beginning. It was like trying something new for the first time, knowing that I was destined to do this in the future, because I had a lot of fun out of it.
Mtime: Now, what does acting mean to you?
Ronan: I think every performance for me is like a way to know myself a little more subconsciously. But acting for me may mean pure fun, and I enjoy it. I love finding a certain rhythm in a scene and working with different people. I love working with different filmmakers and adapting to their rhythms. I really think that people do acting-related work, in large part, because acting is like a therapy. Not because you need therapy, but because you have the opportunity to learn about the world around you.
Mtime: What did you learn from the film roles you played?
Ronan: Ideally, every performance is a challenge, and every time there's something new. If you can achieve your goals and give the director the effect they need or want, it will let you know that you can do something you've never tried before, or that you may need to learn something specific to get the job done. I guess that's what it's about facing the challenge, seeing how you solve it, how you react. The roles I've played, when I've played them, I've been like I'm getting to know strangers. So, just like you feel every time you make a new friend, it's the same thing about playing different characters.
Mtime: When the director shouts "card", how hard is it to get back to reality from the scene?
Ronan: When you're actually shooting, it's actually not very hard because you're ready to go home and sit on the couch, have some dinner, and then you can switch over. But I think one of the hardest things about when you're done with a piece of work is getting used to not having the familiar crew around you, who have been with you for 15 hours a day for the past three months. This separation is abrupt. Then the role you play is no longer with you. You no longer have to play her every day with your eyes open, it does take some time to get used to.
Mtime: What's your favorite movie?
Ronan: I love "Hot Body Dance", "The Solitude", and "Rebellion without Cause". I also like a lot of comedies, like "The Three Dragons," which is one of my favorites, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Chevy Chase.
Mtime: What do you think about reputation? How hard do you find it to manage your relationship with reputation?
Ronan: I think the less you take it seriously, the better. So I never look at anything that writes about me, whether it's a film review, an article, or anything else. I also don't look at the photos or anything else that's flowing out. It was never a part of my life. I'm sometimes recognized, more often in Ireland than anywhere else. It certainly feels very different, but you just accept these things.
Mtime: What is the place of social media in your life?
RONAN: No status. I don't have any social media accounts.
Mtime: Do you have any other artistic talents?
Ronan: I don't think so, I once wanted to try juggling and it sucked. I wish I had the talent for that, but unfortunately I didn't, so I might not have a chance to join the circus. I really like to cook, but I can't talk about talent, and that's the only thing I know how to do.
Mtime: How would you describe your home?
Ronan: I try to put around everything that means something to me. So decorating the house may take a while for me, if not buy everything at once. If I go to a new place that I really like, I try to take a painting or something from there and take it home, and it will make me remember where I went. I think overall, I'll like the very modern, rustic, cozy, cozy style, there will be a lot of wooden furniture, and a lot of rooms.
Mtime: What is your style of dressing? How did you choose your outfit for different occasions?
Ronan: I have a stylist, so when I go to an event, everything becomes very simple. But the stylist himself is guilty of a lot of guilt. Other times, it's about the mood. I like to dress up myself. I really like that when I want to go to a play or go out shopping, I think of a piece of clothing I bought before and I wear it. That's really exciting. I usually wear pants and comfortable clothes, but every day will be different. Sometimes I like colorful, very exaggerated clothes. Sometimes I feel lazy again. Oh, and I love jeans.
Mtime: What's your favorite color?
Ronan: I like blue.
Mtime: Do you like to wear jewelry?
Ronan: I like to wear rings. I like to wear a lot of rings at once, and I really think that looks good, so I just wear them like that. I've always loved jewelry, and I prefer gold to silver jewelry. I don't like those that are too shiny and too bright.
Mtime: What is your most expensive luxury?
Ronan: Maybe it's the house, because the house is the most expensive.
Mtime: What is your most precious thing?
Ronan: One of the rings I wore, silver, was from the Isle of Skye.
Mtime: Your favorite leisure time activity?
Ronan: I like to go to the theater and watch movies and eat with friends. I'm very passionate about dinner and food, so I'm all excited.
Mtime: What is your life motto?
Ronan: Try not to think too much, don't overthink.