Saoirse Ronan talks about the size of The Host book, and having the opportunity to play two different characters in the same film.

“I read it after I met Stephenie in Dublin. It’s massive! Huge! Like the Bible!” Saoirse laughed.

The film follows Melanie as she tries to protect her family and eventually battles against the aliens for control of her body. She portrays dual characters in the release, which was hard going.

“It was a bit of a challenge because you’re getting the chance to play two characters in one film,” she told British magazine Vogue. “Playing someone like Wanda, the alien, who’s naive to everything. And Melanie, who is very feisty and mouthy and hits people… It was great.”

Saoirse has appeared in Atonement and The Lovely Bones and is determined to keep testing herself in her career. She knows her whimsical looks mean some expect her to play certain characters, but that’s of no interest to her.

“I don’t want to fall into the category of just doing ethereal characters,” she said. “But I think if you are an outsider, you have a lot to think about, and you don’t have anyone to share it with. Those things build up in your head and give a character a lot of layers.”

via Xposé Entertainment.