Saoirse Ronan reflects on competing with Dakota Fanning for roles early in her career

Saoirse Ronan discusses being compared to Dakota Fanning in Hollywood, embracing collaboration now.

Saoirse Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, recently opened up about being pitted against fellow actress Dakota Fanning during the early stages of her career. Speaking to ELLE for their Women in Hollywood issue, Ronan, now 30, recalled feeling like there was limited space for young actresses like herself and Fanning in the industry.

“For a while, it was me and Dakota Fanning,” Ronan shared. She expressed admiration for Fanning, calling her a key inspiration for pursuing acting. “She’s one of the reasons why I got into acting in the first place,” Ronan said, adding that she would love to collaborate with Fanning in the future.

Both actresses have impressive resumes. Ronan gained acclaim at just 13 with her role in Atonement (2007), earning her first Oscar nomination. Fanning, also 30, began her career as a child actress, starring in hits like Uptown Girls (2003) and War of the Worlds (2005).

Ronan highlighted the industry's progress in fostering healthy competition among actresses today. "To feel like, oh, there’s space for all of us now... I think it’s great," she noted.

Ronan is generating Oscar buzz for her roles in Blitz and The Outrun. In Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen, she portrays a single mother in World War II London, separated from her son during German air raids. Meanwhile, The Outrun, which she co-produced with her husband Jack Lowden, explores the struggles of a recovering alcoholic returning to her childhood home in Scotland.

Ronan also reflected on her creative evolution, expressing enthusiasm for playing flawed characters, much like those in Girls or Hacks. "We’ve gotten into this habit of filtering our personalities so much," she said. “I want to see people fully formed onscreen.”

Meanwhile, Dakota Fanning has embraced her journey, sharing in a recent interview that she and her sister Elle Fanning have never been competitive, thanks to their different personalities and interests.