Sally Rooney might be the most talked-about young Irish writer, but Saoirse Ronan can give her a run for her money regarding the power of words. The actress shocked the viewers of ‘The Graham Norton Show‘ and presented her strong opinion on women’s day-to-day safety. She, along with Eddie Redmayne, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington, were recent guests of the famous talk show host, but their viewers noticed her making a direct statement about violence against women that went viral. Eddie Redmayne started by discussing ‘The Day of the Jackal.’ He said it implemented some hand movements that he had learned, Self-defense movements that he picked, and one of them was using a phone to mimic an attacker.
When Eddie told them that one could neutralize an attacker with the help of a cell phone thrown at the neck, Paul Mescal, as a joke, replied, no one would think of using my phone for such purposes. Saoirse attempted to make her point; however, Eddie and Paul laughed every time she started talking. In answer to that, she finally lost her temper and, drawing attention to this, pointed out it was a serious matter, “That’s what girls have to put up with all the time.” Am I right, ladies?” She said something that made Eddie and Paul pause and bow their heads in silent acknowledgement while the applause came in for her, pointing out that it is precisely what women endure.
Online fans lauded Saoirse’s comment as they exclaimed what the latter usually ignores but is highly significant. Instagram had one comment: ‘How is it Madness that the men on stage laughed like those who use the phone as a weapon?’ Usually, every woman thinks about that.” That almost ceded the women her victory, where she sometimes made them uncomfortable with a well-told truth. Other comments repeated Saoirse’s message: “The ordinary and constant phobias that we all experience daily.”
A fellow fan once said, “Women always have to protect their neck, at any moment, day or night, whether we are accompanied or not, and or wherever we are.” Another fan added, “Her face when they were talking to her said it all’. Saoirse Ronan, known for films like ‘Brooklyn,’ ‘Lady Bird,’ and ‘Little Women,’ began her acting career in 2003 as part of the television series ‘The Clinic,’ then appeared in the film ‘I Could Never Be Your Woman’ (2007).
She recently starred in ‘The Outrun’ (2024). But Saoirse, speaking truthfully on ‘The Graham Norton Show,’ proved again that it is only through discussion of issues most women face to make a difference – even if that’s by raising her voice against those around.
