NEW YORK – Saoirse Ronan seems a bit disoriented about the time.

In the past few weeks, the affable Irish actress has traveled across continents promoting her upcoming films: “The Outrun,” releasing this Friday, a poetic story of a woman overcoming alcoholism, and “Blitz,” arriving in theaters on November 1 and streaming on November 22 via Apple TV+, an intimate World War II saga. Amidst the red carpets, festivals, and numerous interviews, Ronan feels somewhat dizzy.

“I just got back from London, so I’m like, ‘Who am I? What am I doing? What are words?’ ” she laughs, cozied up on a green-room sofa while wearing a relaxed black outfit. During her flights, she has indulged in some light-hearted entertainment. “I started watching ‘Hacks’ last night – I adore that show. I also just finished ‘The Perfect Couple’ – it’s brilliant!”

This marks Ronan’s first foray back into film promotions since the 2019 release of “Little Women.” Although she has performed in several projects since then, their premieres were significantly impacted by COVID-19 and the strike actions in Hollywood. This is partly why fans were thrilled to see her attend the Emmy Awards last month with her new husband, Jack Lowden, who stars in “Slow Horses.”

“I’m rarely out and about!” Ronan, 30, jokes heartily. In a way, she acknowledges, “it’s true. I haven’t done this in such a long time. I’m delighted to be back.”

Saoirse Ronan re-enters the Oscar race with ‘The Outrun’ and ‘Blitz’

Based on Amy Liptrot’s memoir from 2016, “The Outrun” follows Rona (Ronan), a reckless graduate who disrupts her life in London due to heavy partying and returns to her family’s home on the Scottish coast to seek sobriety. There, she reconnects with nature while battling her inner turmoil.

Ronan believes there are few films portraying alcoholism from a young woman’s viewpoint, despite numerous films depicting older male alcoholics.

“You’re observing someone who is unkind, difficult, a poor daughter, and not a good lover, having lost connection with what truly matters,” Ronan explains. “It completely disrupts the conventional narrative we have about women: when discussing mothers with drinking problems, people often say, ‘What about the kids?’ There’s immense pressure on women to keep up this immaculate image.”

To step into the role of Rona, understanding addiction’s psychological aspects was crucial for Ronan. She attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where she encountered individuals who had faced tremendous challenges yet maintained their humor. She also engaged deeply with Liptrot, who experienced a flood of pent-up feelings when she became sober at 30.

“Amy shared that during her rehab, she couldn’t stop crying,” Ronan remembers. “There was so much emotional baggage that needed to be released.”

While filming on a remote island, Ronan honed various skills, even assisting with the birth of seven lambs. (“I was scared I might harm those baby sheep!”) Yet this was minor compared to her nerves about performing in front of large audiences in “Blitz.” Directed by Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”), the film is set against the backdrop of the German air raids on London in the 1940s. In this film, Ronan plays Rita, a strong single mother who pauses her musical aspirations to contribute to the wartime effort in a munitions factory.

On her inaugural filming day, Ronan jumped right into a vibrant dance scene in a bustling hall. Rita also performs numerous jazz standards throughout the film,

In one of the initial scenes, she sings an original song for her 9-year-old son (Elliott Heffernan), moving the audience to tears.

“I feel quite anxious when it comes to singing in front of others,” Ronan expresses. “Steve and I spent considerable time discussing who this woman is and the significance of music in her life. Music serves as a way for communities to comprehend the chaos around them, so I aimed to connect with that idea.”

She is set to collaborate with Greta Gerwig and her husband Jack Lowden again

If Ronan secures Oscar nominations for both “Outrun” and “Blitz,” which many believe she will, she will make history as the youngest person ever to receive double acting nominations. She earned her first nomination at age 13 for her role as a cunning schoolgirl in 2007’s “Atonement.” She has since received three more nominations for her outstanding performances in films by John Crowley (“Brooklyn”) and Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird,” “Little Women”).

“She has a captivating presence,” notes “Outrun” director Nora Fingscheidt. “Being around her is enjoyable and lighthearted, yet she is also incredibly passionate.”

Even though she has been acting for most of her life, Ronan says that the 2018 historical drama “Mary Queen of Scots” was the first time she felt completely confident in her own abilities.

“Working on ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Lady Bird’ was quite mentally overwhelming for me,” Ronan recalls. “I felt inundated and self-aware, but I was fortunate to have two fantastic directors who were able to channel my chaotic emotions into something cohesive.”

However, portraying a character in “a position of ultimate power” helped restore some confidence she felt had waned. “By the time I worked on ‘Little Women,’ I felt empowered. I was no longer afraid of making mistakes or stumbling along the way.”

It was during “Mary” that she met Lowden, 34, who played Lord Darnley, the queen’s second husband. The pair married last summer. Lowden read “Outrun” during the pandemic, and they collaborated to produce the film adaptation. They are currently seeking other scripts to develop, particularly those set in Scotland, Lowden’s homeland.

As a team, “Jack is much calmer than I am; he provides the rationale,” Ronan shares. “Having both spent our lives on film sets, we understand what we are asking of actors and strive to create a safe environment for them.”

They are eager to act together again soon: “Jack wasn’t keen on it for a while, but I’ve persuaded him it’s a wonderful idea. I would truly enjoy working on something together on stage.”

She is also enthusiastic about reuniting with Gerwig. Her ideal project would be an original movie musical inspired by “Sing Street,” set in the 1990s. “I know she has an interest in creating a musical as well, and I think that decade is really exciting. I constantly remind her she needs to cast me in everything else. ‘Barbie’ was her only break.”

At 30 years old, Ronan feels more settled in life. She cherishes quiet moments where she can unwind. A perfect day for her involves “being in a secluded area” with Lowden and their dog, Stella, enjoying packed sandwiches for lunch, followed by hiking or swimming.

“My life has expanded beyond just my career,” Ronan reflects. “For a long time, that was my sole focus; that’s how I formed relationships and made sense of everything around me.” However, she now enjoys a “wonderful circle” of friends who offer mutual support.

“I feel part of a community, something I never expected to have,” she shares. “I used to think, ‘You’ll never have friends. You’ll never find a partner.’ I was very much in my own little world. Now, feeling like I’ve established a fulfilling personal and social life – it means so much to me.”