Famous for having one of the most difficult names to pronounce in Hollywood, Dennis Quaid announced Saoirse Ronan’s name as “Shee-shah” during the 2015 Golden Globe nomination ceremony.
The American-born Irish actress is renowned for her roles in period dramas since her adolescence. She gained acclaim with an Oscar-nominated performance in “Atonement” (2007) and furthered her career with notable roles in “The Lovely Bones” (2009), “Hanna” (2011), and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014).
Ronan received additional Oscar nominations for her roles in “Brooklyn” (2015), “Lady Bird” (2017), and “Little Women” (2019), winning a Golden Globe for “Lady Bird.”
Saoirse Ronan wearing head-to-toe Gucci at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
Saoirse Ronan Addresses Mispronunciation on SNL
When hosting Saturday Night Live in December 2017, the actress used her opening monologue to address the common mispronunciation of Saoirse, which translates to “freedom” in English.
The “Lady Bird” star also taught the audience how her name really sounds by playing a catchy song.
The Meaning Behind Saoirse’s Name
“I am very Irish, and I have an extremely Irish name,” Saoirse said. “Some would say too Irish. It’s Saoirse. It means freedom. But I’ve got a little problem: It’s spelled wrong. It’s a full typo.”
Several SNL cast members joined the fun, calling the host everything from “Cersei,” “Sushi,” and “Sore Cheese.” Her name is pronounced “Sur-sha,” which she clarified when attending The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Clarifying the Pronunciation on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
On January 6, 2016, Saoirse Ronan appeared on the show to clarify the pronunciation of her Irish-origin name. An Instagram post from the program showed Ronan wearing a sign that read, “Hello, my name is Sur-Sha,” accompanied by a caption explaining that her name rhymes with “inertia.”
In the Wired video, Saoirse Ronan explains the correct pronunciation of her name. This video is a helpful resource for those curious about how to say her distinctly Irish name.
Fashion Highlight: Saoirse Ronan’s Floral Dress at Critics’ Choice Awards
The “Little Women” actress joined her on-screen sister Florence Pugh at the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
She told Deadline that Greta Gerwig deserved a Best Director Oscar nomination for the coming-of-age period drama film Little Women.
Saoirse Ronan believes Greta Gerwig should have been nominated for Best Director for Little Women (Credit: Instar / WENN)
“I’m really happy that the Academy recognized [Gerwig] for Adapted Screenplay and Picture, and I feel like if you’ve been nominated for Best Picture, you have essentially been nominated for Best Director,” Saoirse Ronan told the entertainment magazine.
Saoirse Ronan’s Irish name is pronounced Sur-sha and means freedom (Credit: Instar / WENN)
“But to me, Greta, since she started, has made two perfect films, and I hope when she makes her next perfect movie, she gets recognized for everything because I think she’s one of the most important filmmakers of our time.”
Saoirse Ronan’s Erdem Spring 2020 ‘Aurelio’ floral print tiered dress (Credit: Instar / WENN)
Styled by British Vogue contributing editor Elizabeth Saltzman, the Irish actress donned a floral print dress from Erdem’s Spring 2020 collection and accessorized with Tamara Mellon’s Reveal shoes and Niwaka jewelry.
Greta Gerwig rocked an Alberta Ferretti tuxedo with Stuart Weitzman shoes and Nikos Koulis jewelry.
Saoirse Ronan and Greta Gerwig at the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on January 12, 2020 (Credit: Instar / WENN)