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‘Little Women’ Star Saoirse Ronan Says Her Name Is Spelled Wrong

From Good Housekeeping

  • Saoirse Ronan is nominated at the 2020 Oscars for Actress in a Leading Role.

  • Throughout her career, the 25-year-old has talked about people not being able to pronounce her first name, and she understands why.

  • The 92nd Academy Awards are airing on Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. ET.


Since making her acting debut nearly two decades ago, Saoirse Ronan has racked up an impressive four Oscar nominations. Most recently, her captivating portrayal of Jo March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women earned her a nod for Actress in a Leading Role.

While there's no doubt that she’s a seasoned award show attendee, presenters have struggled to master the pronunciation of her name. Fans of the actress may remember Dennis Quaid’s failed attempt while announcing her 2016 Golden Globes nomination for Best Actress in the hit drama Brooklyn.

Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images
Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Now, with the 2020 Oscars upon us, the American-Irish star is bound to have her name announced again — but this time, hopefully, folks will be prepared to say it correctly.

So, how do you pronounce Saoirse?

Saoirse is pronounced “Sur-sha.”

The actress is aware of the difficulty her name creates for people, and she sympathizes with those who fumble over it.

“Yes, I am very Irish, and I have an extremely Irish name. Some would say too Irish,” she said on Saturday Night Live in 2017. “It’s Saoirse, it means freedom, but I’ve got a little problem. You see, it’s spelled, well, it’s spelled wrong. It’s a full typo … You can see why people have a hard time.”

Thankfully, daytime TV host Ellen DeGeneres gifted the Little Women star a handy little sign to help clear up the confusion.

Photo credit: TheEllenShow - YouTube
Photo credit: TheEllenShow - YouTube

Take note, folks!


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