Saoirse Ronan spoke candidly about how switching between two conflicting roles for two completely different films left a lasting impression on her.

The Irish actress, who filmed The outlet And Lightning back to back, described the contrast as pretty cool, as she went from playing an “edgy” character to a “pillar of strength for a younger person.”

“To go from a performance that is a bit of everything, quite messy and tense and then very calm and safe, to someone who has to be this pillar of strength for a younger person, to be the shining light, to be his beacon of hope, was such a cool contrast,” Ronan shared Entertainment weekly during the day The Award Winner podcast.

Released on September 27, The outlet was the first film Ronan had produced. The actress played Rona, who struggles to find happiness without the help of any resources.

“I don’t think I’ve ever given a performance like what I’m giving up for The escape,she said, adding that it turned out to be the most rewarding project on a personal level.

Ronan earned four Oscar nominations for her portrayal The outlet.

The 30-year-old considered the character “ugly, mean and mean.” But then she also felt the need to “protect her more than anything,” saying that “she felt a tremendous responsibility playing her because of the stories and lives of many of the people she represents.”

After wrapping the film, the Little women The star went on to film Steve McQueen’s World War II drama Blitz, in which she played stubborn mother Rita, who sends her son to the countryside with other children to protect them from the German blitzkrieg in 1940-41.

For Rita, Ronan described how she discovered the “beautiful glamor that existed at that time.”

Expanding on her experience taking on a variety of roles for the job, Ronan shared her amazement at the sheer ability to embody so many characters.

She added: “That’s what I love about my job, that one person can embody so many different spirits.”