SAOIRSE RONAN has opened up about what she misses most about Ireland.
The 24-year-old was born in New York but raised in Carlow.
But despite the fact she now lives back in the Big Apple, the Golden Globe winner's heart still belongs to the Emerald Isle.
"Even though I was born in the Bronx, I grew up in Ireland... and I enjoy going back because it's where I feel at home. There's a serenity there that I can't find anywhere else," Ronan told Psychologies magazine [via The Independent].
The Brooklyn actress has enjoyed living in New York though and the newfound independence she has.
"Living in New York, getting to experience the different cultures and being part of the excitement of that city has been important to me," she said.
"Being there has helped me become more open and outgoing, compared to before, when I was living a sheltered kind of life. I've matured a lot lately."
Despite her exciting new surroundings, Ronan misses her family over in Ireland and, in particular, her mother Monica, who she views as one of her "best friends."
"She's always been a role model for me and I have so much respect for her sense of dignity and integrity," the 24-year-old said.
"I've tried to take after her and bring that same kind of perspective to the way I live. Both my parents have taught me to be true to myself and dedicate myself to pursuing the things that are truly meaningful to me."
Ronan never forgets her Irish roots either, as a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon demonstrated.
The episode saw the actress perform a stirring rendition of The Pogues' classic Fairytale of New York alongside the host. It was almost as good as the original.
See More: Ireland, Saoirse Ronan
