After becoming aware of a forthcoming adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women", scripted and directed by Greta Gerwig, Ronan campaigned to play the lead role of Jo March, an aspiring author in the American Civil War era. In preparation, she read "Marmee & Louisa", a biography about Alcott and her mother; the cast rehearsed the script for two weeks, and filming took place on location in Concord, Massachusetts. "Little Women" was released in 2019 to critical acclaim. Richard Lawson of "Vanity Fair" took note of how well she portrayed the character "in all her conflicted loyalty, the struggle between her familial contentment and her yearning for something more." The film grossed over $216 million to emerge as Ronan's highest-grossing release. Once again, she earned Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress.