Irish actress Saoirse Ronan is making a stir, after being branded as 'The Spirit of Great Britain' by Harper's Bazaar magazine.
The UK-edition of the publication features Ronan on the cover, as part of an interview for her new film 'Mary Queen of Scots'.
In it she plays the title role, the daughter of James V of Scotland.
In an interview she talks about her role, British monarchs, Irish borders - and whether history will repeat itself in the age of Brexit.
The multiple Academy Award nominee says of Brexit: "It's such a feckin' mess".
But it is the magazine's cover which seems to have made a splash - with some suggesting it is claiming Ronan as British.
Saoirse Ronan is photographed on the cover of the UK edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine | Image: Erik Madigan Heck
She was born in New York to Irish parents, who moved back to Ireland when she was a baby.
She holds both Irish and American citizenship.
While the magazine does seem to separate the two - Ronan and 'The Spirit of Great Britain' - some people are questioning the placement.
Saoirse Ronan features on Harper’s Bazaar ‘Spirit of Great Britain’ cover. I FUME! (I don’t really fume) https://t.co/fzndqw4W09
— ??Donald Clarke?? (@DonaldClarke63) January 3, 2019
Uh, guys? You know Saoirse Ronan isn’t British, right? pic.twitter.com/xcKp8SNp84
— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) January 3, 2019
Britain’s best actress is...
100% Irish, naturally. https://t.co/UD8wH6bL8w
— Aisling Keenan (@aislingmkeenan) January 3, 2019
What an insult to Ireland. But of course, that’s what the English do.
— GreyWater Reed (@MearaReed) January 3, 2019
So Harper’s Bazaar have the wonderful Saoirse Ronan on their cover, with the headline “The spirit of Great Britain" to accompany it. Nothing factually wrong. But certainly not the best idea. Just going to put this under ‘things that were not meant in 2019, but did anyway’..... pic.twitter.com/h6JQQJXZP6
— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) January 3, 2019
