Saoirse Ronan Collects Her Two IFTA Awards
Actress Saoirse Ronan has collected the two Irish Film and Television Awards which she won in February.The 14 year old Atonement actress scooped the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award and Best Supporting Actress at the IFTA's in February. She was not able to attend the event due to filming commitments and her grandparents accepted the awards on her behalf on the night.
Selected by a special jury and sponsored by the IFB, the Rising Star Award aims to highlight exceptional new talent working in all areas of the Irish film industry. Saoirse beat off competition from Martin McCann (Actor, Closing the Ring), Marian Quinn (Director, 32A), Mark Mahon (Producer, Strength & Honour) and Cecilia Ahern (Writer) to win the award.
The actress, home in Ireland on a break from filming Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones in New Zealand, said of her delight upon hearing she'd won the two IFTA awards. "It was really nice because it's the Irish award and I just felt really proud that I won one of them, let alone two."
In addition to her two IFTA Award wins, Saoirse was nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe awards earlier this year for her acclaimed role in Atonement.
She has four films scheduled for release in 2008.