THE NIGHT I MET SAOIRSE RONAN AT THE SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 – A SEQUEL TO THE NIGHT I NEARLY MET JOHNNY DEPP
Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan honoured at the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2016.
Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan to receive the Outstanding Performers of the year on Monday, February 8th in The Arlington Theatre.
This is the first time there are two recipients honoured together.
Brie Larson is Oscar Nominated for best actress in “Room”
Saoirse Ronan is Oscar Nominated for best actress in “Brooklyn”
I met Saoirse Ronan in Dingle in 2009 when Saoirse opened the Dingle International Film Festival. She was accompanied by her mother.
She was a beautiful young teenager. Although she was only 15 she was articulate, confident neither conceited or pretentious. She was a darling.
She chatted openly & was excited to meet Brian de Staic as she was in the BdeS shop earlier & bought a ring. She proudly showed her purchase to Brian. http://www.briandestaic.com
Always the teacher, I asked Saoirse about school. She told me she left school at 13 to pursue her acting career. She opted for home schooling instead. Now, that was a clever move.
I was a fan then and I’m a fan now.
Photo Credit : Dingle International Film Festival. Saoirse Ronan with Director Jim Sheridan.
Director Jim Sheridan was presented with the Gregory Peck Award at the 2009 DIFF. Saoirse Ronan opened the DIFF that year. Brian de Staic, designs and creates the Gregory Peck Award for the DIFF.
Photo Credit : Dingle International Film Festival.
Saoirse Ronan with The CEO & Artistic Director of DIFF Maurice Galway in 2009.
Saoirse was nominated for an Oscar in 2008 by The Academy Award for Supporting Actress for her part of Briony Tallis in the 2007 film Atonement.
It was the role that made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees in history. It also brought her International attention. The Irish nation was captivated by this beautiful young actress ☘️
Although she didn’t win the Oscar, she represented her native land to perfection. We were all very proud of her.
Photo Credit: nlayer.wordpress.com
Photo Credit : Getty Images
Saoirse looking stunning in a beautiful green gown
“Tús maith, leath na hoibre” A good start is half the work.
Saoirse certainly had a great start, maith thú. ( well done )
Saoirse has continued to make remarkable films.
Saoirse Ronan (21) was nominated in 2016 for a second Oscar for her performance in Brooklyn. Her portrayal of Eilis Lacey was outstanding.
Photo Credit : Star Tribune.com
Meanwhile back to THE NIGHT I MET SAOIRSE RONAN AT THE SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 – A SEQUEL TO THE NIGHT I NEARLY MET JOHNNY DEPP.
Brian, myself, my brother Pat, Trini & Willie Quinn get all dressed up in our best bib and tucker and head to The Arlington Theatre 🎭 on Monday February 8th 2016 to support the one and only Saoirse Ronan.
We arrive at the V.I.P. desk. I explain to the receptionist that we are The Dingle Film Festival Delegation from Santa Barbara’s sister city Dingle. Brian and myself met Saoirse when she opened the 2009 Dingle film festival. I said that we’d like to meet her.
The receptionist said that wasn’t a problem but she’d need to make an enquiry.
I spot a young lady dressed in grey going through the barricades, she goes on the first red carpet, through the barricades to the second red carpet.
I see SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling giving a press conference.
When he’s finished the lady in grey approaches him. They chat for a few minutes and then the lady in grey makes her way back to us.
“Follow me please”
We are like “The Famous Five”on adventure, through the barricades we go until we arrive on THE red carpet.
SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling welcomes us.
He apologizes for not meeting us during the week.
SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling had a very busy schedule that week.
He enquiries if we enjoyed our stay. We assure him we had a whale of a time.
He invites us to join him in The Green Room after the Q&A session.
There is nobody else on the red carpet. There are only security people there.
The Press are behind the barricades.
When Roger Durling leaves the press are asking who we are. How many movies did we make? Crazy stuff 😜😝 🤪
We are aware that all this is on the live screen in the theatre.
Very exciting and we are going to meet Saoirse.
We are well aware now of the routine on the red carpet. Night Three …
The film star arrives, poses for the camera in front of the SBIFF backdrop.
A short TV interview and then autographs with the public outside on the street. These people are placed there strategically.
We were offered to stand there originally but as we had V.I.P. Passes we chose to stay inside the barricades.
We wanted to see the Award ceremony and enjoy the Q&A session.
There’s a loud cheer from the hundreds of fans on the street. A huge black hummer / limo stops and our own Saoirse Ronan steps onto the street. One feathery white sandal at the time. Finally, it seemed to take forever, I was looking forward to seeing her, she’s there. Looking simple yet elegant in a white Chloe halter neck dress with shoes to die for. Jimmy Choo white sandals with ostrich feather tassels ✨✨✨
The crowd is cheering, Saoirse confidently walks over to the press. She gives a brief TV interview. She says she loves Santa Barbara, it’s a calm break from the madness of Los Angeles. We are so proud, Saoirse (21) poses for the photographers. She is a total professional. I’m not surprised that she is nominated for her second Oscar. I loved her portrayal of Elis in Brooklyn.
On queue she walks over to the fans on the street. She signs autographs and poses for photographs.
Earlier we met Gina originally from Limerick now living in Santa Barbara. A friend advised her to stand in a certain place. We watch as Saoirse goes over to her and poses for a photo.
Photo Credit: Gina
We wait patiently to greet our star. She’s heading toward us.
Photo Credit : Trini Quinn
Saoirse poses in front of The Arlington Theatre. You can see Brian and Trini in the background. Waiting patiently to greet Saoirse.
Where is she? – all of a sudden out of nowhere a group of 10 security guards dressed in black surround Saoirse on both sides and proceed to escort her back onto the red carpet.
We couldn’t see her. I call her name “Saoirse”
The security guards pause – then like the parting of the Red Sea, the black wall of security guards parts and Saoirse recognises Brian.
A pictures paints a thousand words.
Saoirse is overjoyed to meet us. Brian introduces himself. She remembers Brian & Dingle. She loves Dingle International Film Festival, Brian is on the board of DIFF.
I congratulate her on SBIFF Award and the Oscar Nomination. She chats to us and invites us to the Green Room, we happily tell her that Roger has also invited us. She says she looks forward to meeting us later.
I complement her on her portrayal of Eilis in Brooklyn
We introduce Willie, Trini and my brother Patrick Mullins.
The media is amazed.
We tell her we will meet her later.
We follow her onto The Red Carpet. Cameras flashing. We pose again and
make our way into the theatre.
Saoirse arrives on stage to watch the screening she’s eating popcorn 🍿 and totally relaxed.
The screening showing all her performances was outstanding. She’s only 21, what a C.V. she has. I loved every second.
Photo Credit : People.com
The Q&A session with Mark Hammond was terrific. Saoirse was funny, articulate, informative, grounded & very modest. When she was asked the secret of her success, she replied.
“Hard Work but luck has a lot to do with it too”
Talking about Brooklyn she said there were so many parallels between herself & Eilis. For example, Saoirse said she was homesick too when she first moved to London.
Moderator Mark Hammond, Saoirse Ronan & SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.
“This is an incredible year for emerging talent to take center stage and showcase their abilities,” festival director Roger Durling said. “We’ve long been following the careers of Brie and Saoirse and their recent roles as empowered young women transcend time, place and circumstance”
Photo Credit: Barbara Singer
Accepting her award with tears in her eyes, Saoirse closed the evening with warm words of thanks to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
She turned to the photographers :
“There’s no point in taking a photograph now, my makeup is ruined.”
After the Award Ceremony we asked for directions to the Green Room. “Oh, you mean the Dom Perignon Room, I will bring you there”
The room was tiny. Only a handful of people, Saoirse, Roger Durling, and ourselves.
The bubbly is flowing, the hors d’oeuvres are delightful. We are feeling at home. Handsome, friendly waiters. We speak to Saoirse for a little while before she is whisked off to Los Angeles. We wish her every success at The Oscars. We hope to meet her in Dingle soon.
We thank Roger Durling for a wonderful week at the SFIFF. He was delighted to hear we had a great time.
Mission accomplished. We had a magical evening making memories & having fun.
THE NIGHT I MET SAOIRSE RONAN AT THE SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 – A SEQUEL TO THE NIGHT I NEARLY MET JOHNNY DEPP
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