The Lovely Bones Press Conference - Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon and Rose McIver

Saoirse, can you talk about doing those scenes by yourself?
Saoirse Ronan: "Yeah, there were quite a few scenes on my own in the in-between, and we actually did go on location as well in New Zealand, which was beautiful. It was a great experience to do something like that. Bu when we used bluescreen, we used different things that they figured out would help me.

And, of course, how well-written the script was. Really, everything I needed, or most of it, was in the script already. We would also play music during the [shots], music that would reflect the mood of the scene, so that would help me so much. We would do that all of the time, and Peter would talk to me during the takes as well, and describe what was going on around me. So I was able to react to that. It was nice because I never really felt like I was on my own because I felt like I had my little guardian angel there. But no, lots of things like that - the music especially helped me."

Saoirse, did you read the book beforehand, and what was your reaction to it?

Saoirse Ronan: "I waited to read the book. I hadn't heard about the book before I heard about the film because when it came out I was quite young anyway. But when I did get the role, I waited to read the book after I'd made the film because, well, I was just a bit too young to read it. I heard it was a tough read, especially the first chapter, and after reading it now I realize that it is quite tough.

But I eventually did read it and it was beautiful and I thought that Pete and Fran and Philippa did a great job adapting it."

Saoirse, did you find Ireland and New Zealand similar?

Saoirse Ronan: "Oh yeah, completely, completely."

[Peter Jackson interjects: "Well, New Zealand is full of Irish convicts that got sent over there."]

Saoirse Ronan: "Anyway! So I did find New Zealand similar to Ireland. The people, obviously. I found that, ironically, although these two countries were very far away from each other, their humor was so similar and their outlook on things was quite similar as well. When I went over there, I felt very comfortable. I'd always felt comfortable with Pete anyway, but especially when we went over there. I think [Pete] felt more relaxed and then so did I, so I mean I'd move there. I love New Zealand. It's my favorite place to shoot. It's one of my favorite countries to visit. The people, the food, the landscape, everything about it I love."

Could you give us a little insight into the acting process for the murder scene. What kind of conversations did you have with one another?

Stanley Tucci: "I have no recollection of it, so…"

Saoirse Ronan: "We didn't talk about it that much, really, beforehand. I don't think Stanley would have wanted to. It was quite a few months into shooting before we did the scene, and so I don't know about the crew, but both Stanley and I were quite anxious to get the scene out of the way. And so we went in on the day and as I've said before, everything I needed was already written for me, and Pete was there so I felt very safe. Luckily, Stanley and I were very comfortable with each other and we get on well and I think that was essential to get that intensity on screen. That we were comfortable with each other, that we could bounce off each other and sort of freak each other out, in a way. Especially him."

Stanley Tucci: "Yeah, I couldn't wait to finish the scene, I'll be honest with you. You know, you are concerned, certainly as a parent or just as a person you are concerned when you are working with a younger person with this subject matter. You know that you have to behave a certain way in order to get what you need or get what you need across to fulfill the needs of the screenplay. But after every take, I would say to Saoirse, 'Are you okay?' because it just made me uncomfortable. [Laughing] But Saoirse would also ask me if I'm okay, and it turns out that she's the one who really, I think, in some ways made us all feel comfortable. Because she's so mature."

"I did ask Pete, 'Can we just get this done in one day?' And he said, 'I'll try,' and we weren't able to. We shot another half day the next day, and then it was over. I kind of breathed a sigh of relief. It was one of the last things I did in the movie, and I was very happy when it was over. But you also in between takes, you joke around, you have to. Like Rachel said before, it's your job to go and do that thing and then take it off and go home to your kids or go and have dinner. That's your job."

Saoirse Ronan: "I know I wouldn't have been able to stay in that place for the whole time, because when the cameras started to roll, it was extremely intense. It was interesting to see, I think Rose mentioned this earlier, first of all Stanley is such a great guy and to see how he changes is frightening. And for someone who certainly gets on well with him, it feeds whatever performance you need to get out. But I enjoyed it. I enjoyed doing the scene."

What was the reasoning behind Mr Harvey's peculiar contact lenses?

Stanley Tucci: "What contact lenses? No, it was not to make him look slightly inhuman. […]I didn't think that my eyes were the eyes that should be the eyes of this guy. And also, he needed to be more of, I suppose, quintessentially American, so the skin tone was changed and hair was added. The eyes seemed to be appropriate for him. I think that if you look at the scenes, let's see the scene with Mike Imperioli, when he comes in and starts asking questions. I think that the eyes there, what I'm hoping is that they looked sort of normal. I think in those close-ups, in certain close-ups - like the reflection in the mirror when he's sitting in his car - I think then the eyes take on a different quality because of the way it's lit and because of my horrible thoughts behind them."