Chatting with Atonement's Young Star

Saoirse Ronan is only 13, but she’s already on her way to becoming Hollywood royalty. Her performance as the conniving young Briony in Atonement is absolutely mesmerizing. Not only is she up for a Golden Globe on Sunday for Supporting Actress in a Drama, she’s currently filming the Peter Jackson-directed The Lovely Bones opposite Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz.

So, what will she be doing Sunday night with Atonement director Joe Wright and her costars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy? I caught up with Ronan, who lives in Ireland with her parents, today at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills for some hot chocolate and cookies.

How did you find out you were nominated?
I was in Pennsylvania doing Lovely Bones, and I knew the Golden Globes were being announced, but I was trying to put it out of my head. I was in my bedroom, because I was trying to get some shut-eye, and then the phone rang. I head Dad shout, “Yes!” So, I thought, "Oh God, that must be good news."

Now that the ceremony has been canceled, what will you be doing on Sunday night?
I think we’re having a party, just a little get-together. I think it’s just great to be here with Joe, Keira and James and all the guys from Atonement.

You still haven’t read the book Atonement?
A good few people have said to me, “Maybe just wait until you’re a little bit older.” I’m trying to be sensible.

But you read the script?
Yes. When we did the read through and everything, I learned, um, a few words.

Yeah, there are some, um, words in there. [Among them, the script uses a very crass term to refer to a part of the female anatomy.]
The thing is, I had never heard of that word before, and I had to find out what it meant.

You first saw the movie at the Venice Film Festival?
I had Joe sitting on one side of me and James on the other. I was kind of nervous about seeing myself...I held their hands for the first five minutes of the movie. I was literally squeezing their hands. But then I forgot, and they said, “Can you let go of our hands now?” [Laughs.]

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That’s not all Ronan and I talked about. I’ll have more tomorrow. Find out what she says about Knightley and McAvoy’s very adult and steamy love scene, what she took home from the Atonement set and why she can’t wait to get home to go back to...school!