On the fence: Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara. You’ve heard of her, or seen her in the past couple of years: Either in The Social Network as the girl who dumps Zuckerberg on his ass or the girl with the dragon tattoo. She’s been talked about around the style blogs as having an edge and the gossip blogs as being kind of an ungrateful bitch.

Rooney Mara at the Paris premiere of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Photo: Elen Nivrae
Rooney Mara at the Paris premiere of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Photo: Elen Nivrae

Background information

Girlfriend’s family is LOADED. Great-grandparents on both sides of her family founded the Pittsburg Steelers and the New York Giants. Her uncle co-owns the Giants. More football shit. Wow.

Her sister is Kate Mara, an actress you may or may not have seen in her slew of indie movies and supporting roles.

Rooney Mara’s real name is Patricia Rooney Mara. I can see why one would drop the ‘Patricia’. It’s not the edgiest name alive, if that’s what she’s going for.

She went to NYU for psychology, international social policy, and nonprofits. +1

She started acting in television and film in 2005. Biggest jobs: A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Social Network and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

The Evidence

Straight from her mouth 

Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander on the cover of W magazine, Photo: W Magazine
Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander on the cover of W magazine, Photo: W Magazine

On the campaign trail for GWTDT, she spoke about her first major role on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit. She played a formerly obese girl who beats up fat people with her boyfriend. Rooney ungratefully dished her opinion on the episode.

“Being on Law & Order: SVU was so awful. So stupid. People are obsessed with that show. I don’t get it. Me and my boyfriend—although I don’t look old enough to have a boyfriend—went and beat up these fat people, and at the end of the show you find out that I used to be obese and I hate fat people. It’s ridiculous. Who would ever do that? Who would beat someone up because they’re fat? And as retribution, they sodomized her. I mean, I’ve been sodomized since the beginning of my career. I should have known then it would come full circle.”

Yeah, it sounds like a pretty stupid premise for an episode, but there’s something so unkempt and ungrateful about a successful actress criticizing roles that supported her rise to fame. I’m all for eccentric artists, actors and musicians. It makes their work more interesting. +1 But it’s a fine line to walk, especially in Hollywood, when it comes to telling the truth. The majority of the time, the poor little rich kids end up sounding like huge turds.

-1

Rooney Mara arriving at the 2012 Golden Globes wearing a Nina Ricci dress, Photo: via deadline.com
Rooney Mara arriving at the 2012 Golden Globes wearing a Nina Ricci dress, Photo: via deadline.com

Style 

Her style has been pretty bold and interesting. She’s been wearing lots of cutout dresses that definitely play up her edgy media persona. Everyone was waiting to see what she would wear at the Golden Globes. She chose a Nina Ricci dress with her seemingly signature cutout style. +1

The Score

Rooney comes out slightly ahead with a +2 advantage. She’s definitely a girl to keep an eye on in 2012. Either for brilliant movie roles or something outrageous that comes out of her delightfully uncensored mouth.

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