Saoirse Ronan claims Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne and Denzel Washington were 'humbled' by her comments on violence against women on The Graham Norton Show

Saoirse Ronan has revealed Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne and Denzel Washington were 'humbled' after her comments regarding women's safety on The Graham Norton Show. 

The actress, 30, set social media alight during her recent appearance on the show when she made a remark about gender-based violence.

In response to Paul questioning whether someone would have time to take out their phone to use as a weapon when being attacked – something Eddie learned in self-defence training for a role – the Little Women star said: 'That's what girls have to think about all the time.' 

The brutally honest comment prompted a moment of silence from the panel.

'Am I right, ladies?' she then asked the crowd, eliciting a huge round of applause from the studio audience.

Speaking on the Table Manners with Jessie Ware podcast, Saoirse said she didn't expect the interview to go viral in the way it did.

Saoirse Ronan has revealed Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne and Denzel Washington were 'humbled' after her comments regarding women's safety on The Graham Norton Show

Saoirse Ronan has revealed Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne and Denzel Washington were 'humbled' after her comments regarding women's safety on The Graham Norton Show

The actress, 30, set social media alight during her recent appearance on the show when she made a remark about gender-based violence

The actress, 30, set social media alight during her recent appearance on the show when she made a remark about gender-based violence

She said: 'I didn't expect this sort of reaction, I am incredibly refreshed and proud. I think we can do it in a calm manner. We have to keep it in context, the lads didn't hear my comments and then say, what are you talking about? They were [humbled].'

Saoirse admitted she was worried she had come across terribly after the interview was filmed and went for a drink with Paul right afterwards.

She said: 'Most of the show is there but it is edited. I came away from filming it, Paul and I went for a drink afterwards, and I was so in my head about it. 

'I was like, I thought I was s***e on that tonight. I forgot everything that had been said. Maybe two days later once it had aired, I was anxious about it airing, then my best mate said, everyone's contacting me about the phone comment. 

'I'm very grateful for one comment that I've made to have started a conversation that absolutely needs to be had.'

She added: 'I think I had a moment being honest where I felt bad. Then I thought, no, no, mustn't do that. 

'Because that's the kind of conversation that I would have with my female friends and my male friends, one of which being Paul Mescal. 

'The women in my life are very vocal about their experiences. I've never really shied away from that.'

Saoirse said: 'I didn't expect this sort of reaction, I am incredible refreshed and proud. I think we can do it in a calm manner'

Saoirse said: 'I didn't expect this sort of reaction, I am incredible refreshed and proud. I think we can do it in a calm manner'

She added: 'We have to keep it in context, the lads didn't hear my comments and then say, what are you talking about? They were [humbled]'

She added: 'We have to keep it in context, the lads didn't hear my comments and then say, what are you talking about? They were [humbled]'

It comes after Paul spoke out about Saoirse's comments, saying she was 'spot on'

It comes after Paul spoke out about Saoirse's comments, saying she was 'spot on'

It comes after Paul spoke out about Saoirse's comments, saying she was 'spot on'. 

Paul was asked on Irish broadcaster RTE's The Late Late Show if they were surprised by the reception.

He responded: 'No, I don't believe we were surprised, because you're like, as you said, you're on a talk show like this, and you're kind of just talking.

'But I'm not surprised that the message received as much attention that it got, because it's massively important and I'm sure you've had Saoirse on the show, like, she's… quite often, more often than not, the most intelligent person in the room.

'But I think she… was spot on, hit the nail on the head, and it's also good that … messages like that are kind of gaining traction, like that's a conversation that we should absolutely be having on a daily basis.'

Normal People star Paul, who has been nominated for a best actor Oscar for the drama Aftersun, is currently starring in hotly anticipated blockbuster Gladiator II.

Saoirse appeared in The Outrun, about a women struggling with alcoholism, early this year.