10 Craziest Method Acting Behind Great Performances

The role of Lisbeth Salander is not one to be taken lightly, especially after Noomi Rapace’s astonishing performance in the original version of The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo. Luckily, Rooney Mara had no intention of slacking in David Fincher’s 2011 remake, and went to harsh lengths to embody the challenging part.

Mara committed fully to the distinctive look, chopping off her hair and picking up a few new piercings. She lost a substantial amount of weight, and generally cultivated a sickly, vulnerable image to add to the heartbreak of her character, who suffers a great deal of abuse at the hands of men in the movie. To ensure she had the look down, Fincher instructed her to get enormously drunk, then show up early the next day for the film’s promotional photos.

Mara also researched Asperger’s Syndrome in her preparation, paying a visit to a specialist school to ensure her portrayal was accurate. In spite of a healthy box office and strong reviews, the remaining films in the series were not remade for American audiences - which, from a health perspective, may have been welcome news to Mara.