Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has expressed her desire to step away from coming-of-age roles and play a Bond villain in a future installment of the 007 franchise. According to an interview with Empire published in August 2024, the four-time Oscar nominee stated she is “dead serious” about wanting to tackle a dark antagonist role to channel pent-up dramatic energy.
Saoirse Ronan Sets Sights on James Bond Franchise
Known for acclaimed performances in films like Lady Bird, Little Women, and The Outrun, Ronan told Empire that she is keen to explore darker territory on screen. “I want to go dark,” Ronan told Empire. “I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain and I’m dead serious.” She added that a young female villain could offer a compelling dynamic for audiences, giving women and girls a character who can direct pent-up anger into a dramatic outlet.
Husband and fellow actor Jack Lowden has also drawn frequent mention in media discussions regarding potential contenders for the 007 mantle, according to reporting by the Irish Star.
Exploring Darker Roles Onscreen
Before any potential entry into the James Bond universe, Ronan takes on a tense dramatic predicament in her film Bad Apples. In the movie, she plays a teacher named Maria who holds a disruptive pupil captive in her basement. Ronan described the complexity of the character to Empire, noting that Maria operates in moral gray areas rather than functioning as an out-and-out psychopath.
Bad Apples is scheduled to arrive in UK cinemas on September 18, following further coverage featured in the August 17 issue of Empire.
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