Rooney Mara's biography

Name

Rooney Mara

Date of Birth

April 17, 1985

Birth Place

Bedford, N.Y.

 While attending New York University, Mara begins auditioning for roles, eventually landing a guest-starring spot on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. "People are obsessed with that show. I don't get it," she later tells Allure. The actress makes further TV appearances on Women's Murder Club in 2007 and The Cleaner in 2008.

 

 

 A scene-stealing turn as Erica Albright, the fictional ex-girlfriend of Mark Zuckerberg, whose breakup inspires the creation of Facebook, launches Mara into the spotlight after The Social Network's release. "When Rooney walked in, I said, 'There's the girl!'," director David Fincher tells W. The film grosses more than $200 million, and becomes an awards-season favorite.

 

 

Mara beats out bigger-name actresses like Scarlett Johansson for the coveted role of Lisbeth Salander in director David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on Swedish author Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy. "I wanted her from the beginning," he tells W magazine. "We didn't make it easy for Rooney, and there was no way to dissuade her."