First look at Saoirse Ronan in ‘Mary, Queen of Scots,’ scripted by ‘House of Cards’ creator
The first look of Saoirse Ronan, two-time Oscar nominee for her performances in Atonement and Brooklyn, in her new film Mary, Queen of Scots has dropped. The historical drama began filming on August 14 and comes from independent studios Focus Features and Working Title, who have worked together in the past on notable films such as The Theory of Everything, The World’s End and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and will release Victoria and Abdul and The Darkest Hour later this year.
Beau Willimon, writer of The Ides of March and creator/showrunner of House of Cards until his exit after season 4, wrote the script for the film. British theatre director and artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse Josie Rourke will make her feature debut. Ronan will be joined by Jack Lowden, who appeared this summer in Dunkirk, as well as Joe Alwyn, David Tennant, Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I.
Ronan will appear later this year in On Chesil Beach, a film from fellow English theatre director Dominic Cooke, when it premieres at Toronto International Film Festival in September. She’ll also star in Greta Gerwig’s directorial feature Lady Bird, from A24, which releases on November 10.
Look below for the first image of Ronan and the official synopsis of Mary, Queen of Scots:
John Mathieson/Focus Features/Working Title/Courtesy
“Mary, Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth 1. Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.”