Saoirse Ronan recently stunned her fellow guests on The Graham Norton Show with a frank reminder about the reality of violence faced by women and girls.
Ronan, 30, appeared on Friday’s show alongside actors Eddie Redmayne, 42, Paul Mescal, 28, and Denzel Washington, 69, to discuss their upcoming projects. During the conversation, Redmayne described his new role in The Day of the Jackal, where he plays an assassin, and his training in self-defence for the part.
Redmayne’s training sparks a candid moment
As part of his training, Redmayne worked with a combat expert who taught him how to use everyday items, like a mobile phone, as defensive weapons. Demonstrating, he explained how to use a phone to jab an attacker in the neck.
Paul Mescal jokingly responded that he couldn’t imagine pulling out his phone during an attack. “Who’s actually going to think of that?” he laughed. “If someone attacked me, I wouldn’t be going, ‘phone.’”
Ronan’s honest response
Ronan then made a pointed observation, telling her co-stars, “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.” Both Redmayne and Mescal immediately fell silent. After a short pause, Ronan added, “Am I right, ladies?” The audience applauded in agreement, while the other guests nodded and mumbled along.
Fans praise Ronan’s statement
Fans quickly praised Ronan’s blunt honesty. One viewer commented online, “Saoirse Ronan putting the men in their place—we love to see it. She waited, then gave them a reality check.” Another wrote, “The awkward silence after she dropped that on them speaks volumes.”
Others pointed out the stark contrast in reactions. “When the guys spoke, they were so lively, but as soon as she said ‘Am I right, ladies?’ they just started mumbling. She had them flabbergasted,” said one fan.
A reminder of women’s daily realities
The conversation highlighted the stark difference between men’s and women’s experiences in public spaces. As one viewer noted on X/Twitter, “Men have the luxury of joking about situations that would horrify women. Our experiences are so different!”
This reminder is timely. Earlier this year, UK police declared violence against women a national emergency. An estimated two million women in England and Wales suffer violence at the hands of men each year, with offences such as stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence affecting one in twelve women. Since Sarah Everard’s tragic murder, over 350 women have been killed by men in the UK, with crimes against women rising by 37% in the past five years.
Women often feel forced to adopt self-protection measures when out in public, whether it’s sharing their location with loved ones while walking alone or learning self-defence. Ronan’s remark served as a powerful reminder of the vigilance women must constantly maintain.
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