Saoirse Ronan captivated critics and audiences not just by her name, but also because of her brilliant performance as the young Briony Tallis in “Atonement” (2007). Nominated for a Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award, the young star landed the role of a lifetime in the epic drama and practically stole the scene every time she appeared onscreen. It was quite a feat for the newcomer to co-star in a movie with Keira Knightley and James McAvoy before she was even allowed to read the book it was based on. Ronan made more headlines when she was cast as the lead in the film adaptation of Alice