Murtada here. W Magazine is famous for offbeat editorial photo shoots and their latest is no different. To celebrate the release of the 1950s romance Brooklyn they shot its star, Saoirse Ronan, as literally “Queen of Hearts”. Ronan certainly breaks and wins hearts with her performance as Irish immigrant Eilis Lacey. The film has been winning fans since its debut at Sundance in January, including on these pages.
On why she wanted to make Brooklyn after the jump...
On why she wanted to make Brooklyn:
“It felt like I had to do it; it was my life in novel form. I had just moved from my home in Ireland to London, and I understood the sadness and excitement of being on your own in a new place.”
On her character Eilis Lacey:
“She’s complex, but I would say, somewhat proudly, that Eilis is Irish. And being Irish is part of the reason I never wanted to change my name, even when it was strongly suggested. Saoirse means ‘freedom.’ And my middle name, Una, means ‘unity.’ Freedom and unity—that’s quite a lot to live up to.”
On Brooklyn’s warm reception :
“When you have faith in something, it’s great to see that other people see what you saw. It’s like sharing a dream.”
