Hollywood star Saoirse Ronan has been named an ambassador of the Irish Film Institute (IFI), after achieving ‘excellence in her craft’.
The 25-year-old Little Women star is the first person to be given the role, which will see her supporting preservation, education, and exhibition in the Irish film industry.
Ronan is delighted with the honour and says that the Irish film industry is improving all the time thanks to the talent of filmmakers at home and abroad.
She said: “I am delighted to have been asked to be the inaugural IFI Ambassador. Film in Ireland is always something I will support.
“Our industry is going from strength to strength through the incredible projects being produced at home and abroad by Irish filmmakers, and by producers from across the pond also.”
It isn’t the first time Ronan has been involved with the IFI.
In 2011, an IFI fundraising campaign to build a facility to preserve materials in the Irish Film Archive featured a teenage Ronan.
Since then her career has been on an unstoppable upward trajectory and she recently received her fourth Academy Award nomination for her performance as Jo March in Little Women.
It follows Best Actress Oscar nominations for Lady Bird in 2018 and Brooklyn in 2016. She also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Atonement in 2008.
Ross Keane is the IFI director. He spoke of his delight at having secured Ronan for the role.
He said: “Saoirse is a hugely gifted actress, and we are delighted to have a respected artist of her standing as our inaugural IFI Ambassador.
“Saoirse has achieved excellence in her craft, which is a value we strive for across our remit of film exhibition, preservation and education.
“Having previously collaborated with Saoirse on our fundraising campaign in 2011, we are thrilled to be working with her once again as she supports the Irish Film Institute into a new decade.”