I think it's important that we have strong, female characters in movies now, which can really leave an impression on people - especially young people - and that they're not 'sexy' or 'cool'.

The 1916 uprising was kind of the most important rebellion in Ireland's fight for independence that had been going on for 700 years. So it's a very important moment in history for us.

Learning is the most important thing, no mater how you do it, or where you do it, or who you do it with.

I've never really felt like I was a child actor. Just an actor who happened to be quite young.

I think that when you're an actress, you have to think about what kind of a role model you're going to be. I hope that I'm a good role model for young girls. I'm not going to, if people still want me in their movies, I don't want to be one of these girls who goes around partying every night and is in rehab. I don't want to do that.

My name means freedom in Irish.

I was 12 and I remember every­thing. I mean, I had done two films before that. The first was actually with Amy Heckerling. It was so brilliant to work with her on my first film. Atonement was the third one I'd done, and I remember how it felt to arrive on set every day. I remember how it felt to get my wig off at the end of the day. I remember how hot it was.