Saoirse Ronan Submits ‘Blitz’ for Supporting Actress Oscar

Saoirse Ronan is gearing up for a competitive Oscar season, with two performances poised to compete for the industry’s top honors.

Selection confirms that Ronan will compete in each lead actress race for the Sundance hit “The Outrun” and supporting actress for her upcoming work in the World War II epic “Blitz” — likely setting her up as a double acting nominee this awards season. If she is nominated twice, which is currently projected to be Selection Awards Circuit predictions suggest she may be the thirteenth person and youngest actress to earn two acting nominations in the same year. Seven of the previous 12 actors have won for one of their nominated works (Fay Bainter, Teresa Wright, Barry Fitzgerald, Jessica Lange, Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, and Jamie Foxx).

Learn:You can see all the Oscar predictions in all 23 categories on one page at Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars.

In “Blitz,” which is set to premiere as the opening film of the BFI London Movie Pageant, Ronan plays Rita, a mother determined to reunite with her 9-year-old son George, played by newcomer Elliott Heffernan, after sending him to the countryside for safety. The film, written, directed and co-produced by McQueen, also stars Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham and Kathy Burke.

Meanwhile, in “The Outrun,” Ronan tackles the emotionally charged role of Rona, a former addict seeking restoration and healing in the remote Orkney Islands. Co-written by Fingscheidt and Amy Liptrot, the drama is based on Liptrot’s memoir. The supporting cast includes Paapa Essiedu and Stephen Dillane. Adding to the behind-the-scenes intrigue, Ronan produces the film alongside her husband, Jack Lowden, Sarah Brocklehurst and Dominic Norris. Three of the girls received best actress awards for films they also produced — Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”), Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Issues”).

At 30 years old, Ronan is already being dubbed a “late comer” for Oscar gold after racking up four previous nominations for her breakout roles in 2007’s “Atonement,” 2015’s “Brooklyn,” 2017’s “Girl Chook” and 2019’s “Little Ladies.” If she secures nominations for both “Blitz” and “The Outrun,” Ronan will eclipse Kate Winslet’s record of becoming the youngest actress to garner five (or six) nominations, a feat Winslet achieved at ages 31 and 34 for 2006’s “Little Children” and 2008’s “The Reader.”

A double nomination could also echo Winslet’s 2008 Oscar campaign, when she was on track for two nominations for “Revolutionary Highway” and “The Reader” before the Academy ultimately moved her work in the latter film to the list after sweeping the supporting categories at the Golden Globes, SAG and Critics’ Choice Awards. According to Academy guidelines, an actor cannot be nominated twice in the same category, and the Actors’ Division can vote for a performer in both a lead and supporting role.

As the season progresses, all eyes may be on Ronan. Will she be the latest actress to land the coveted double nomination? With two dynamic performances in completely different films, this could be the year she finally brings home the gold.

Sony Pictures Classics will release “The Outrun” in theaters on October 4. “Blitz” will debut in select theaters on November 1 before streaming globally on Apple TV+ on November 22.