Saoirse Ronan in Mary Queen of Scots Scotland’s last Catholic queen is hotly tipped to be the role that sees Ireland’s Saoirse Ronan [pictured] win her first Academy Award.
Although criticised by historians, Josie Rourke’s film Mary Queen of Scots is already winning rave reviews for Ms Ronan and Margot Robbie’s performances as the Catholic queen and her English nemesis, Elizabeth I.
Critics have rated her the firm favourite to win the Best Actress award in February’s Oscars.
Just six days old when her father died in 1542 and she ascended the throne, Mary was forced to abdicate in favour of her one-year-old son James VI of Scotland in 1567. She sought protection from her cousin Elizabeth, whose throne she had – with the support of many English Catholics – once claimed.
Confined for many years in a succession of castles and houses around England, in 1587 she was executed after being found guilty of plotting against the English queen.