Actress Saoirse Ronan has explained why her husband, actor Jack Lowden, hesitates to work alongside her on stage or screen following their 2024 marriage.
Speaking to People magazine ahead of her upcoming film Bad Apples, the 32-year-old Oscar-nominated star revealed that the 36-year-old Scottish actor feels self-conscious about sharing a set or stage with close friends.
The couple, who met while working together on the 2018 historical drama Mary Queen of Scots, married in 2024. Lowden, who is currently considered among the frontrunners to play James Bond, finds the prospect of acting opposite his wife unusual despite their shared career background.
Theater Ambitions and Stage Hesitation
Ronan said she would love to collaborate with Lowden again, particularly in a theater production. She explained that she has told her husband of her strong desire to do a play together because he is incredible on stage and truly comes alive in live theater.
She added that while Lowden feels at his best performing on stage, she does not necessarily feel as confident in that environment. Performing together would allow him to hold her hand a bit during the production, she noted.
Reflecting on their relationship, Ronan highlighted that they met through their work and have built a strong professional partnership alongside their personal life. She emphasized that they remain a central part of each other's careers as well as their marriage.
Behind the Scenes at Arcade Pictures
Although Ronan and Lowden have only appeared together on the big screen once, they frequently work together behind the camera. Both served as producers on the 2024 drama The Outrun through their joint production company, Arcade Pictures.
Ronan expressed confidence that when the right project emerges, collaborating on screen or stage will be the obvious choice for both of them. However, she noted that Lowden remains far more hesitant about working with her than she is with him.
She explained that her husband finds it strange to act alongside any of his friends and that he simply gets shy when placed in that situation.
Historical Drama Origins
The couple first crossed paths on the set of Mary Queen of Scots, in which Ronan starred as Mary, Queen of Scots. The 2018 film chronicled the 16th-century political and personal turmoil between Mary and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, played by Margot Robbie.
Lowden co-starred in the feature as Lord Darnley, Henry Stuart, who became Mary's second husband in the historic drama.
Background and Careers
Saoirse Ronan is an acclaimed Irish and American actress who earned four Academy Award nominations for her performances in Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women. Born in New York City and raised in Ireland, she began her acting career as a child before becoming one of international cinema's most prominent leading performers.
Jack Lowden is an established Scottish actor celebrated for his work across film, television, and theater. He gained widespread recognition for his role as RAF pilot Collins in Christopher Nolan's 2017 war epic Dunkirk and for starring as River Cartwright in the Apple TV+ spy drama series Slow Horses. In 2014, Lowden won an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the London stage revival of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts.
Following their joint work on The Outrun, Ronan is set to star in the upcoming feature film Bad Apples, while Lowden continues to be widely linked in public discussions regarding the next iteration of the James Bond film franchise.
