Saoirse Ronan Advocates for Flawed Female Characters in Hollywood

The Oscar-nominated actress shares her journey with complex roles, addiction, and the need for authenticity in female representation after working on The Outrun

Saoirse Ronan is calling for more flawed, multidimensional female characters onscreen, a perspective she embraced while working on her latest project, The Outrun. The Irish actress, known for her portrayals of relatable young women in films like Lady Bird, Little Women, and Brooklyn, has achieved four Oscar nominations before turning 30. In a recent interview with Elle, Ronan shared insights about portraying Rona, a woman struggling with sobriety in The Outrun.

“I was so ready for it,” Ronan said. “I felt confident enough in my abilities, but also in who I am as a person. I didn’t feel confined by the need to play only ‘likable’ characters.”

Ronan explained how flawed characters like those in Girls and Hacks have inspired her. “Lena Dunham’s characters in Girls can be quite unlikeable, but there’s something true in that. I just started watching Hacks, and those women are selfish, self-involved, with huge egos, yet they still have redeeming qualities,” she said. “We’ve become so used to presenting only the most polished versions of ourselves online. But real people are complex—they’re a mix of good and bad qualities.”

As The Outrun marked her first credit as a producer, Ronan said the experience deepened her understanding of addiction, which she now views as an illness rather than a flaw. “For people who don’t suffer from it, addiction can seem like a choice they don’t understand,” she shared. “There’s confusion and resentment that comes with that, which I’ve felt myself.”

The role is especially personal for Ronan, as she has loved ones who’ve faced similar struggles. “By stepping into this character’s psychology, I found a way to process some of the pain and heal,” she added. Through The Outrun, Ronan hopes to expand the space for complicated female characters, giving audiences a fuller picture of what real, flawed women look like onscreen.