10 Subtle Instances Of Method Acting You Didn't Even Know About

5. Rooney Mara Had Her Nipples Pierced For The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Rooney Mara Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Sony

Prior to taking on the role of Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's underrated The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Rooney Mara didn't have a single piercing or tattoo. That's not exactly a problem, since the costume and makeup department can take of all that, but Mara decided she wanted something a little more authentic.

Not only did she cut her hair and dye it black, which isn't too much of a stretch, but she also went and got real piercings in her ears, nose, eyebrows, and nipples. While fake piercings were an option, and no one watching would be any the wiser, Mara believed it was important for getting into character, saying:

"I thought, She has it in the book, and she should have it [in the movie].”

She even kept the piercings in for quite a while after the movie, in case the sequel ever came to fruition.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.