Saoirse Ronan says she had ‘high expectations’ of actor husband Jack Lowden while they co-produced her harrowing new drama – after claiming there’s ‘still time’ for the Scots star to play James Bond

Saoirse Ronan admits she and husband Jack Lowden had “high expectations” of each other after the couple worked together on her new film.

Ronan stars in the upcoming drama The Outrun as Rona, a vulnerable young woman in recovery who moves to the Orkney Islands after undergoing treatment for alcoholism at a rehabilitation centre.

The actress, who admits she’s seen the impact of her addiction on some of her closest friends, also co-produced the film with her husband Lowden, whom she married in July.

And Ronan, 30, says she had a strong creative bond with ‘mate’ Lowden, 34, who, oddly enough, she calls by his full name.

She told the Sunday Times: ‘Jack Lowden and I tried to keep an eye on the representation of Rona, to show that nothing matters to her other than alcohol, but also to remember that she is a human being, so everyone can see themselves in her.

Ronan stars in the upcoming drama The Outrun as Rona (pictured), a young woman who moves to the Orkney Islands after undergoing treatment for alcoholism

“If you find people that you love and trust creatively, why wouldn’t you want to continue working with them?”

‘We have very high expectations of each other. When I tried out Rona’s Orcadian accent on him for The Outrun, he said, “You’re not doing that?”‘

The actress admits that she was able to draw on a wealth of experience while preparing for the role, having personally experienced the pain and damage that addiction can bring.

She said: ‘I’ve seen people I love change because of addiction. There’s a helplessness you feel when you see someone you love – friends my age and one in particular who I’m close to – go through that.

‘What will forever be etched in my memory is the moment when someone’s eyes glaze over and he/she is gone.

“When you’ve become second choice to alcohol, you become resentful, so for this role I had to put my own feelings about it aside. And I didn’t have to be angry about it anymore.”

Ronan previously indicated that her Scottish actor husband still has time to become the next James Bond.

The Irish actress discussed Lowden’s Bond potential when she co-hosted a show on BBC Radio 2 with Scottish DJ Edith Bowman.

The actress (second from right) – who admits to seeing the impact of addiction on some of her friends – also co-produced the film with her husband Lowden (far right), whom she married in July.

“Jack and I tried to keep an eye on the representation of Rona, that nothing else matters to her except alcohol, but also that she is a human being,” she said (pictured in the film)

During an in-studio conversation, Bowman indicated that she thinks Lowden would be a good choice for the iconic role. She said she’s been making that argument for years.

Ronan also said that she and Lowden, who helped produce the new Orkney film The Outrun, find it important to work with people they feel comfortable with.

The Mary Queen of Scots star said: ‘If you feel safe in the company you’re in, but you’re also being challenged, that’s the best environment.

‘As we get older, and certainly for Jack and I, the more we do this, the more important it becomes for us – and actually essential – to only work with people who are on the same wavelength as us and who are just nice and good at what they do.

“That doesn’t mean you have to be the best, but you just have to be passionate about it and take care of each other. Because there are a lot of people who aren’t.”