Rooney Mara covers Vogue with Garbo-like allure and inside some tidbits about Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects, which will hit the Berlin Film Fest (Feb 7-17), it’s just been announced.
In Side Effects, Mara takes on the role of the wife of a hapless insider trader, played by Channing Tatum. When he is released from prison, brimming with plans to rebuild their once-golden life together, Mara’s character descends into bleak depression, apparently fueled by an unscrupulous doctor’s careless administration of prescription drugs. Mara’s nuanced performance illuminates a movie whose unexpected twists and revelations owe a debt to Hitchcock at his sliest.
For her role, Mara spoke to psychologists, met with sufferers of depression, studied online video diaries—even visited the psych ward at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital. “I think everyone has at some point in their lives been depressed, or at least sad,” she says. “I had a lot of anxiety growing up because I was so shy, so I could relate to that part of it. But severe clinical depression is a whole other thing, and I guess I never really knew how bad it can get.”
Soderbergh says he was taken by Mara’s ability to “shape-shift” when he saw his friend David Fincher’s The Social Network in its unfinished early stages. Mara plays Mark Zuckerberg’s arch and increasingly exasperated girlfriend in the masterly pre-credits opening—a sequence that threatens to steal the movie. “Wow, who’s that girl?” he asked himself. “She just really registers strongly.” And yet, a surprising degree of personal shyness has clung to the actress since early childhood. “I think that’s part of the reason I like acting,” Mara explains. “I can be someone else. I get to express a lot of things that maybe are hard for me to express in my normal life.” She relishes a role with an accent for this reason: “I just find it easier to lose yourself. I’d really rather hide behind the character. It’s like a party trick! Not that I go to parties.”
I kind of want to see this, just to find out if the line reading of “I have some energy”, as seen in the trailer, is SUPPOSED to be ironic.
Sarah: whoa, really? I forgot that line. Well then you got me, I’ll admit I was wrong. I guess all the truly f*d up misfits I’ve known in my life didn’t quite clean up that well.
What were your suspicions Unlikely? If anything, when Fincher’s film came out there was an outcry that his Lisbeth was “too ugly” which was hilarious considering we are talking about Lisbeth Salander. I thought she was perfect and physically matched Lisbeth from the books, moreso than Rapace, who was too old, too big and too obvious.
@Unlikely hood,
From Stieg Larsson’s description: “with the right make-up her face could have put her on any billboard in the world.”
David – are you confusing her with Noomi Rapace?
I like Rooney Mara but David Fincher veered from the books when he cast her as Lisbeth Salander – a person who could never be as hot as the woman in this photo. I get it, but it’s always nagged at me – and I knew someday there would be an article like this one to confirm my suspicions.
What did Rooney Mara have to do with Prometheus, David? You’re mixing up your tattoos.
I don’t get the buzz about her at all great in dragon but Prometheus horrible.
I love her. Haters can stay pressed, but I think she’s the real deal and she’s gorgeous to boot.
The combination of “hapless trader” “Rooney Mara” and “depression” in a film description makes it an instant must-see in my book. Oh, and Soderbergh directing helps matters.
Rooney rules. Maybe some clown journalists will read this piece and quit knocking her for not moving through the red carpet with an ear-to-ear grin.
Perfect! #SocialNetworkTeamInDaHouse
She looks gorgeous.
And Sodenbergh’s career would be much better off if the man slowed down. You don’t have to make 5 movies a year, dude!
Cool, Lincoln and the social network are still the best of the decade so far IMO, I’d also add shutter island in there
That’s the most insight we have gotten into her in any interview. I need to go out and buy that mag. Thanks for posting.
Hard to believe she took over duties for Blake Lively.
So beautiful girl… #thesocialnetworkteam