Saoirse Ronan
With one Oscar nomination for Lady Bird under her belt, Saoirse Ronan has emerged as one of the most in-demand young stars in Hollywood. Having won the hearts of audiences with her spirited portrayal of a rebellious Californian teenager, Ronan is entering a new realm entirely – playing the title role in Mary Queen Of Scots.
This is undoubtedly the highest profile film of her career, and most industry experts believe Ronan will be one of the favourites during the coming awards season. The film recounts a pivotal and turbulent time in British history, when Mary Stuart finds herself facing enormous pressures after returning to Scotland in 1561 to assume the throne as a young widow and former Queen of France. This brings her into immediate conflict with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I (played by Margot Robbie), who was ruling England and Scotland. Mary is determined to overthrow Elizabeth, amid complex conspiracies and political plots hatched by their respective advisors, who manipulate the two monarchs against each other.