Inside Saoirse Ronan’s ‘Once in Your Career’ Performance in ‘Brooklyn’ (Exclusive Video)

“She breaks your heart,” writer Nick Hornby says in behind-the-scenes clip

“She breaks your heart,” writer Nick Hornby says of Saoirse Ronan‘s “incredible” performance in the movie “Brooklyn” in a video exclusive to TheWrap.

In the video, the cast and crew sing each others’ praises, with special emphasis on film’s lead.

“She bowls you over, really. Just so natural and talented,” co-star Jim Broadbent says. “It’s a great and obvious piece of casting; you can’t imagine anyone else being in the role.”

Ronan plays a young Irish immigrant who lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she falls in love quickly. But when her past catches up with her, she must choose between two countries and the separate lives that hinge on that decision.

“It’s the part that Saoirse seems to have been waiting for,” director John Crowley agreed. “And there is an intersection there between the actor and the role which, if you’re lucky, it happens once in your career.”

Domhnall Gleeson, one of the film’s male leads, chipped in his own plaudits for Ronan.

“I came into it as a fan of her work and as a fan of John’s, and I’m leaving as even bigger fans than before, which is the right way to do it,” he said in the featurette.

Gleeson is another cast member for whom the entire crew has tremendous respect amid the momentum he gained for roles in “About Time” and the “Harry Potter” series.

“I knew Domhnall’s work and I’ve been a huge admirer of his and it just felt that he would be the right kind of actor for [his character] Jim because there is this consummate intelligence to Domhnall,” said Crowley.

Talking about other cast members Julie Walters and Emory Cohen, Ronan said, “we were so lucky with all the people that we had.”

“Brooklyn” was released in selected theaters on Nov. 4, and since premiering at Sundance Film Festival in January has received rave reviews.

Watch the exclusive behind-the-scenes clip above.

Comments