Actress Soairse Ronan says it took her about a year to get into the skin of the character in Lady Bird. By Team Viva

Creating the character of Lady Bird was a time consuming one. How did you prepare for the same?

Lady bird had intricate characteristics, creating that or becoming her needed time so as to ace the perfection. I was in New York for another project and our director Greta Gerwiglives gave us both the opportunity to work on the character and its emotions. We used to plan and meet for a few weeks where we were just hanging out with each other and we would go down the sweet memory lane of our teenage days and how that time flew so fast. Teenage is all about the moments we wished we had, decisions we regret, not having the experience to navigate and so much more, all of this discussion with Greta really helped me to know Lady Bird and be that character. It is not easy to bring in the complexity of this character on screen but Greta was of great help to make me achieve it. This whole process was quite interesting and inspiring. It took about a year for me to get in the role before shoot schedule started.

How much do you relate to the character of Lady Bird?

The character and I share a lot of similarities. I am very assertive and outspoken like the lady bird. Infact, I admire her. It’s not very often that we find a teenager with stern principles. A person can have flaws and not be perfect, and still be really special and have something to offer. Everyone is dealing with their own stuff, they have their own issues, and their sadness. Even if you don't see that directly, it doesn't mean it's not there or it doesn't exist for someone. My character is content with herself and things around her doesn't really matter. So, it is an empowering thing in a way.

The movie has a lot of themes and things to explore. What do you think is the heart of this film?

In this movie, the heart of it is the relationship of lady bird with her mother where it is quite evident that the two of them are close and really love each other but there is just something off or not working right between them. Some incidents in life take you to the rough road and that's what they have been going through in this film. That infact is so relatable for any teenager, as there has always been some turbulence between the guardian and the teenager because of that generation gap and understanding it which gets difficult. But this doesn't really mean that you abandon each other and move on. That's even shown in the movie that no matter the fights or arguments, the bond between the mother and the daughter is beyond breakable.

You have been nominated for the second time for Oscars?

I feel obliged to be nominated once again and also have a better understanding about it now, as during my first one, I was a kid. It really makes huge impact with the second nomination but both of them were equally fantastic. With every film there is a different equation and every film gives you a different experience which makes each and every work we do as important and as appreciative as it could be. With this one, I really think it is completely a group effort. With Timothee Chalamet, Laurie Metcalf too being nominated, it's a full house.

So, it is a great job done by the whole cast and crew. Also, it is a really great feeling to see Greta nominated as she is the fifth women director to be nominated in Oscars.

We heard that you used to visit open houses? Is that true?

Yes, I have had some great memories about the same. I used to visit open houses with my parents just for fun as that time we really couldn't afford those houses. We used to live in a 1970s designed bungalow and whenever we would get a wind of new house on the market in the vicinity, we would go visit them. We would have the attitude that we might just buy it, thinking what if we can, one day? This is actually one such part of my real life that really connected with my character in the Lady Bird as she sees her home and on the other hand, a beautiful house marking it as success ratio which most of us do. But like the saying goes... Home is where the family is.

(Watch Lady Bird only on Sony PIX.)