Saoirse Ronan knows how to make the most of a trip to Los Angeles. While the actor made a quick jaunt across the pond for the 2024 Academy Museum Gala, she has lots to look forward to in a short amount of time. “I have a lot of friends in L.A. so I like to see them when I come out—and to eat as much delicious food as humanly possible,” Ronan tells Vogue. “Joan’s on Third Chinese chicken salad, I’m coming for ya!”
Beyond the L.A. food scene, Ronan was excited about the gala itself—namely presenting her dear friend Paul Mescal with the Vantage Award. “My highlight of the night was having the opportunity to get up on stage in front of a room full of people I respect and speak about my friend, and then to give him an award in celebration of his incredible work over the last few years,” she says of honoring Mescal.
The actor turned to Nicolas Ghesquière for her high-octane Louis Vuitton look: a backless black column dress with a structured origami top that created an exaggerated shoulder. “The dress, to me, showcases how well Nicolas understands a woman’s body and the power it holds,” she says. Styled by Danielle Goldberg, Ronan cranked up the glamour with a pair of Ana Khouri earrings. “What drew me to the outfit was its drama, its elegance, the structure above the bust, and the incredible back,” she says. “Danielle helped me to see all of the beautiful intricacies of this dress and the story we could tell with it.”
Awards season is fast approaching, and we’ll undoubtedly be seeing much more of Ronan—who made her return to the screen to star in Blitz and The Outrun—in the coming months. “Prepping for a gala is no different to prepping for an awards show. Only difference is we know who’s going to win an award that evening,” she says. Luckily, the veteran actor has her routine down pat. “I worked out and ate a hearty meal before I left,” she says. “Played the Brat album throughout the day.”
Something she also has down to a science? The afters. “Something I’ve learned over the years is that it’s always better to bring a friend if you can. Always have flats close by. And, before you head out for the night, schedule your In-N-Out order for after the event is done.”
Below, Saoirse Ronan brings us behind the scenes of her Academy Gala night.