Actress Saoirse Ronan has been Cast in the Period Drama ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’

Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has landed the lead role in period drama Mary Queen of Scots.

Saoirse will play the former monarch in the biopic of her life, which was written by Michael Hirst.

According to Deadline, Working Title is seeking a director for the film, which will launch into production in 2013.

Saoirse and costar Colin Farrell at the premiere of The Way Back

Queen Mary was the only surviving legitimate child of King James V of Scotland and was crowned when she was nine months old.

Mary caused controversy when she married the man accused of murdering her husband in 1567 and was forced to abdicate the throne in favour of her one-year-old son James.

Mary was eventually executed for her crimes.

Saoirse is no stranger to period pieces and rose to fame when she starred in 2007’s Atonement, a film that was set during World War One.

Saoirse starred alongside Kiera Knightley in 2007's Atonement

The Irish actress has been gracing cinema screens around the world and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A Listers in recent years.

Saoirse will play Melanie Stryder in The Host, which is due for release in March 2013.

The film is based on a novel by the same name written by Stephanie Meyer, writer of Twilight.