Carlow actress Saoirse Ronan received the award for Actress in Film/Television for her role in The Outrun at last night’s Bafta Scotland awards. Ronan was not present at the ceremony; however, the award was collected on her behalf by her friend and fellow nominee Izuka Hoyle, who read out a message sent by Ronan.
In the message, Ronan described The Outrun as an “incredible team effort” and thanked all those involved in making it as well as Amy Liptrop, on whose book the film is based. She also thanked the people of Orkney, where the film is set, saying: “This would not have been possible without you, your willingness to let us into your lives, your homes, your story.” In her speech she also praised Hoyle, describing her as a “beautiful, rare gem” and saying: “The work you’ve seen from her so far is only the beginning. Watch her soar.”
Earlier, Hoyle told the PA news agency: “It feels incredible to be nominated for Big Boys which is one of my favourite jobs I’ve ever worked on and it feels incredible to be in a category of such incredible women.” McArdle thanked everyone involved in the film in his acceptance speech. He praised the “incredible producers, and this phenomenal cast of those four women,” joking that “to be trapped in a bus with these four octogenarians was a real, real joy.” The Outrun director Nora Fingscheidt won the Director Fiction award.