2018 just started and Saoirse Ronan is already having an exceptional year. If she isn't a household name yet, she soon will be. (And if you're among the many who struggle to pronounce her first name, the hint is it rhymes with "inertia.") Only in her 20s, Ronan has been acting for more than a decade. Her credits are nothing short of astonishing, especially taking her age into account. She has a long career ahead of her, but 2018 could still be a turning point, as this could be the year of her first Oscar win.

Previous Nominations

Ronan was just 13 years old when she was nominated for her first Oscar. Then, she was up for Best Supporting Actress for the 2007 film ATONEMENT. She played Briony Tallis, an aspiring young writer who accuses her older sister's secret lover and the family's housekeeper of a crime he did not commit. An adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel by the same name, the film also starred Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. Ronan would lose out to Tilda Swinton for the award but it was impressive that her performance was in line with seasoned actresses such as Swinton, Amy Ryan, Ruby Dee, and Cate Blanchett.

Ronan would develop a successful acting career through her teens, appearing in films including the critically-acclaimed and award-nominated THE LOVELY BONES and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. In 2016 she got another solo nomination for her role in the romantic drama BROOKLYN. There, Ronan plays a young Irish girl who immigrates to the U.S. in the early 1950s. Then, life-changing events cause her to have to choose between the two countries. Ronan lost out to Brie Larson but her nomination at the age of 21 would cause her to become the second-youngest actress in history to receive two nominations.

Current Lady Bird Success

Last year, Ronan was attached to yet another majorly buzzed about film: Greta Gerwig's directorial debut, LADY BIRD. The coming-of-age film is one of the best movies of 2017, and has been rolling into the new year with a slew of nominations and award wins. LADY BIRD won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the musical or comedy category, and Ronan took the Best Actress award for her lead role, making her a shoo-in for the Oscar nomination. Third time's the charm, right?

Ronan's Performance In Lady Bird

Awards aside, Ronan truly deserves the accolade for her work on LADY BIRD. She dives deep into navigating the difficult life of a lost teenager. Ronan ditches her heavy Irish accent and transforms into a Sacramento girl longing for new meaning in life. Throughout the film, Ronan displays her brilliant range of emotions. The pace of the story gives the actress a chance to showcase her ability to change the tone like a flip of a switch.

Ronan has no trouble building chemistry with any one of her co-stars. In LADY BIRD, she shares the screen with a number of great talents. Whether it is a love interest, best friend, or her Catholic School nun, Ronan approaches each exchange in a unique manner, just as many of us have different versions of ourselves with different relationships. The most memorable interactions are between Ronan and her onscreen parents, and specifically her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf. How they portray the complicated but loving relationship between a mother and daughter give reason why both actresses deserve Oscars.

The 90th annual Academy Awards show airs on March 4, 2018.