Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2010

Saoirse Ronan takes the stage amid clouds of fog that are meant to recreate the magical feel of her new movie, The Lovely Bones. But the flashing of cameras is interrupted as the smoke begins to take over the room, and staff rush to clear the air. Ronan remains poised and professional during the commotion, chatting quietly with her interpreter as she waits for the press conference to begin. The Irish actress first came to critical attention with the 2007 film Atonement, for which she received an Oscar nod for best supporting actress at just 13. In Lovely Bones, she plays Susie Salmon, who, after being brutally murdered at the beginning of the story, spends the bulk of the film in a heaven-like plane called the “in-between.” Ronan acknowledged that she was hesitant to take on such a role. “It’s not only the fact that she’s killed, but how she’s killed,” the actress said. “But once I met with Pete [Jackson], Fran [Walsh] and Philippa [Boyens], I knew that I was going to be in safe hands.” When asked what it was like to work with a director like Lord of the Rings’ Jackson, Ronan smiled. “Well, it was kind of like coming to Japan, really… I didn’t know what to expect when I first met him.” In the end, though, the actress said she came to truly appreciate his clear, strong style. “I always knew when I had given them what they wanted,” she explained. Ronan said that while she expects teenagers will be attracted by the romantic side of the story, “ultimately, this is a film about hope and love… it’s about knowing that it’s OK to let go.” SC