Saoirse Ronan Shares Safety Concerns Over U.S. Cinemas and Talks Future Film Goals

Saoirse Ronan, known for her support of independent film, recently shared her growing concerns over physical safety in American cinemas due to gun control issues. Speaking on Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, the four-time Oscar-nominated Irish actress called the experience of attending cinemas in the U.S. “horrifying” after past theater shootings and threats, such as the ones associated with screenings of The Dark Knight Rises, Trainwreck, and Joker.

“I don’t feel safe going to the cinema because I’m not sure if someone’s going to pull a gun out. It’s horrifying,” Ronan said. She added that some of her loved ones also avoid New York due to an increase in random attacks, sometimes staged for social media content.

Ronan also spoke about the significance of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. She emphasized that the outcome would influence global stability, urging undecided voters to make their voices count. “America is such a huge part of how the world operates. If you guys go down, a large majority of us will go down.”

Reflecting on her career, Ronan explained that she’s always been drawn to roles with lasting impact. Starting with her breakthrough in Atonement at age 12, she consciously chose meaningful projects over purely commercial options. “I chose to do Atonement over this big-budget action film that I’d gotten at the same time,” she shared, saying her goal has been to connect deeply with each role.

Ronan, who recently starred in Outrun and Blitz, added that while she’s loved her journey in independent films, she’s also ready to take on larger projects. “The older I get and the richer my personal life is, the more consideration I have to put into saying yes to a job.” She acknowledged the privilege of choice in her career and stressed that her focus is now on roles that challenge her as an actor and feel worthy of her energy.