Actress Saoirse Ronan has shared insights into the current generation of actors versus the seasoned legends who “we just don’t make anymore.”
The Irish talent and Selena Gomez recently sat together for Variety’s Actors on Actors series. The pair delved into their latest ventures, with Ronan discussing The Outrun and Blitz, while Gomez covered her part in Emilia Perez.
They also bonded over their experiences of rising through the ranks as child stars. Gomez enthused about her camaraderie with her Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short. Echoing this sentiment, Ronan expressed her admiration for such storied performers, stating: “There’s a certain group of actors that I think exist in the States and also in the UK and Ireland that we just don’t make anymore.”
Honouring icons like Leslie Manville, Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep, and stalwarts of theatre such as Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, Ronan reflected on how these artists painstakingly honed their craft, often starting from theatre without the self-consciousness driven by today’s industry awareness, leading to their vast and rich body of work before venturing into screen roles, reports the Irish Star.
“I think that’s so spot on,” Gomez concurred. “Because the way they talk about their past and how movies were made, it feels like it was a much different time. I honestly love learning from them.”
Ronan is recognised for keeping her personal life away from the public gaze. She discreetly married fellow actor Jack Lowden earlier this year and has revealed little about their shared life. Gomez, on the other hand, has been at the centre of numerous media frenzies since her childhood acting days. Recently, she took a break from her music career to refocus on acting.
During the interview, Gomez mentioned her partner, music producer Benny Blanco, stating: “I’ll always have music in my life because my partner’s a musician, and I love having moments to do it for fun. It can be a little vulnerable when you’re putting yourself out there versus escaping into a character.”
She further expressed: “I think I might be a little too old for the pop-star life. I’m genuinely so happy to just be in this new era of my life, because in a lot of ways, it’s just the beginning.”
Actors on Actors is available on Variety’s YouTube channel.