Actors often narrate how their experiences with some films and roles leave them enlightened. Saoirse Ronan had a similar eye-opening experience while filming the 2024 war drama ‘Blitz’.
The actor revealed how she could relate to her character and above all, the frightening times during World War II. Saoirse plays the character of Rita, a fearful mother trying to get back to her son, George amid war. Here’s what Ronan said while recalling her experience while filming.
Saoirse Ronan Says Chaotic Scenes Of ‘Blitz’ Made Her Experience More Realistic
‘Blitz’ premiered at the London Film Festival on October 9, followed by a press conference. Saoirse Ronan, who assumes the lead role in the film, revealed during the conference that she could not escape the realities of a film’s plot even off the film’s set.
“The thing that made this so real as a filming experience is that you’d shoot certain scenes where there’s total chaos and pandemonium and we’re having to portray characters in abject fear and horror,” she said.
‘Blitz’ revolves around the mother-son duo of Rita and George, played by Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan, trying to find their way back to each other. During the air raids in London, children were sent off to the countryside for their protection. The film makes the fear and uncertainty of people tangible during the uproar of World War II.
Saoirse Ronan Could Relate The Events Of World War II To Modern-Day War
With the ongoing unrest in the Middle East and the Russian-Ukrainian war, Saoirse Ronan could better understand Rita’s character and plight in the wartime atmosphere while filming ‘Blitz‘.
Ronan stated, “You would leave set, and you’d turn on the radio, and you’d hear exactly the same thing, and you’d put on the news, and you’d see exactly the same thing,” she said. She continued, “It was the first time I’d ever had an experience on a project where there wasn’t really an escape from it.”
‘Blitz’ director, Steve McQueen told Variety that they had to expedite filming after the Isreal-Hamas war broke out to make the film more relevant.
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Saoirse added, “I think it gave you so much motivation to continue on with the picture because, again I hate to say ‘relevant,’ but it does feel incredibly relevant. For some reason we still haven’t been able to break this cycle. So yeah, it made it incredibly real.”
Saoirse is grateful for Rita’s role and apologized if she was “insensitive” in addressing global issues. ‘Blitz’ will be released in cinemas on November 1, 2024.
