Saoirse Ronan is in disbelief that a comment she made on “The Graham Norton Show” is getting so much attention.
The “Lady Bird” star, 30, recently appeared on the British comedy talk show and responded to a conversation about safety that silenced male actors Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal and Eddie Redmayne.
Saoirse Ronan on “The Graham Norton Show.” PA Images/INSTARimagesAfter the men joked about how using a phone to fend off an attack is useless, Ronan spoke up and said, “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.”
As the men went quiet, Ronan added, “Am I right, ladies?” The audience then cheered for the actress.
Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington on “The Graham Norton Show.” PA Images/INSTARimagesExplore More
Ronan’s comment went viral on social media and she was praised for speaking up about the topic of violence against women.
“Dead silence until she called to the ladies — I love her,” one fan wrote on TikTok.
Saoirse Ronan on “The Graham Norton Show” PA Images/INSTARimagesRonan responded to the online chatter about her viral comment when she appeared on The Ryan Tubridy Show on Virgin Radio UK Wednesday morning.
“The reaction has been wild,” she said. “It’s definitely not something that I had expected, and I didn’t necessarily set out to sort of make a splash.”
“But I do think there’s something really telling about the society that we’re in right now and about how open women want to be with the men in their lives,” Ronan added. “So many men and women that I know from all over the world have gotten in touch with me about this one comment, which is, again, I would urge people, please, please, please to watch this in context.”
Saoirse Ronan discussing her movie “The Outrun” in NYC on Oct. 1. Getty ImagesRonan went on, “Please watch the whole interview or watch at least that part of the conversation, because it really wasn’t about… the boys weren’t sort of like debunking anything that I was saying. But at the same time, it felt very similar to like when I am at dinner with a bunch of my friends and I will always make the point that, well, this is actually an experience that we go through every single day, 100%.”
The Oscar nominee called Mescal, 28 — who she worked with on the 2023 film “Foe” — “one of my dear friends” and said the pair have “had conversations” about this topic before.
Paul Mescal, Saoirse Ronan at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19. Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures“He completely gets that and completely understands that but I think the fact that there was a moment like that that happened on a show like Graham Norton, it seems to have had an accessibility which seems to have really gained traction, which I think is amazing,” she explained.
Paul Mescal on “The Graham Norton Show.” PA Images/INSTARimages“It’s opening a conversation and again, hopefully it’s allowing more and more women to just be like, well, yeah, actually, let’s talk about our experience,” Ronan continued. “I met a woman last night who’s working on ‘Blitz,’ and she said that, ‘You know, it’s really interesting, after we watched that interview, myself and a few of my female friends were with my husband and we said, you know, this really reminds me of the fake phone call.'”
Saoirse Ronan at the 4th annual Academy Museum Gala on Oct. 19. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP“And her husband went, ‘What fake phone call? What do you mean?'” the “Atonement” star further recalled. “And of course, you wouldn’t understand if you’ve not had to go through anything like that. But she somehow, throughout her life as a female, has gained these tools without ever talking to other women about it and understanding that this is sort of a survival tactic.”
Ronan added, “And we’ve all sort of like subconsciously found the same tools and use them again and again and I find that really interesting.”
Ronan is continuing to be celebrated online with posts of the “Graham Norton Show” clip receiving millions of views on social media.
Saoirse Ronan at the “Blitz” premiere in London on Oct. 9. ZUMAPRESS.com“As a father of 2 teenage girls…good on her…thank you,” one fan wrote.
“Those men better have been listening bc the silence was deafening,” another person said.
“Saoirse Ronan thank you for standing up for all of us!” a different comment read.
