Saoirse Ronan says Maggie Smith 'grafted' in a way Oscar nominated actress didn't have to
Saoirse Ronan and Selena Gomez sat down to discuss their new projects, and the state of the industry, in a new interview for Variety's Actors on Actors
Actress Saoirse Ronan has admitted a previous generation of actors including Dame Maggie Smith 'grafted' in a way the Oscar-nominated star didn't have to.
She shared her insights on the changing landscape of the industry, noting a difference between today's actors and the iconic stars of yesteryear during a candid chat with Selena Gomez for Variety's Actors on Actors series. The pair delved into their latest roles with Ronan in The Outrun and Blitz, and Gomez in Emilia Perez. They also bonded over their early starts in the industry.
Gomez couldn't help but express her admiration for her Only Murders in the Building co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short. Echoing this sentiment, Ronan highlighted a breed of actors she feels are unique to their time.
She said: "There's a certain group of actors that I think exist in the States and also in the UK and Ireland that we just don't make anymore."
She continued, praising the likes of Leslie Manville, Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, and Maggie Smith for their extensive theatre backgrounds and the work ethic that shaped their careers: "So like for us people like Leslie Manville, and Gary Oldman, and Steve and Martin, and even Meryl. All of these people, so many of them started in the theatre. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, they grafted in a way that not only we didn't have to, but there's an awareness of the industry now and we all sort of have an awareness of ourselves. Which I feel like they didn't have to deal with in the same way. And so they just had these incredible bodies of work, before they ever moved into screen."
Gomez concurred, reflecting on the nostalgic tales of filmmaking from the past shared by seasoned actors: "I think that's so spot on," Gomez agreed. "Because the way they talk about their past and how movies were made, it feels like it was a much different time. I honestly love learning from them", reports the Irish Star.
During the interview, Gomez mentioned her partner, music producer Benny Blanco, saying: "I'll always have music in my life because my partner's a musician, and I love having moments to do it for fun. It can be a little vulnerable when you're putting yourself out there versus escaping into a character."
She further added: "I think I might be a little too old for the pop-star life. I'm genuinely so happy to just be in this new era of my life, because in a lot of ways, it's just the beginning."
Actors on Actors is available on Variety's YouTube channel.