In 2009, Rooney Mara starred with Georgia King, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguson, Tom Everett Scott, and Amy Sedaris in the coming-of-age drama Tanner Hall.
Brie Larson beams in a blush pink dress with gold accents, showcasing her effortless charm at the Tanner Hall screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2009 (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
Following the film’s world premiere as an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2009, the movie stars also attended the New York “Tanner Hall” screening at the School of Visual Arts Theater in April 2010.
Rooney Mara stuns in a teal ruffled dress, exuding elegance at the Tanner Hall screening at the School of Visual Arts Theater on April 12, 2010, in New York City (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
Rooney Mara’s Breakthrough Role in Tanner Hall
Originally auditioning for the supporting role of Lucasta, Rooney was cast in her first leading role after impressing directors Tatiana von Fürstenberg and Francesca Gregorini.
“We cast her as our lead and she had never been in a feature before. She was very nervous about taking the part, she was like ‘Just give me a smaller part, I don’t know if I can carry a whole movie.’ But the thing about [Rooney is] she’s so strong, and she’s so brave,” Furstenberg said in an interview with IndieWire.
“She did the storyline with Tom Everett Scott the first week. She is not a ‘Look at me’ attention-starved actor at all, it really all does come from within. She’s like a conduit…she doesn’t care about whether she gets [camera] coverage or not…she’s inspired by what she’s doing, and she’s absorbing everything in the world around her and she’s recycling it back. She’s such a brave person, I’m not surprised [at her rise to fame].”
The Rise of a Star: Rooney Mara’s Performance and Recognition
When the film was released on September 14, 2009, Rooney Mara was 24 years old. For her portrayal of Fernanda (“Fern”), she won the Stargazer Award at the 2010 Gen Art Film Festival. Her co-star, Brie Larson, was 19 and turned 20 on October 1, 2009.
From Tanner Hall to the Oscars: Rooney Mara’s Journey
In February 2016, Rooney Mara was one of many stars present at the exclusive Oscars Nominees Luncheon held in the Grand Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
Rooney Mara keeps it minimalistic and chic in a white ensemble at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon on February 8, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
The then-30-year-old actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2016 Academy Awards for her performance in “Carol.”
Rooney Mara exudes elegance in a white floral-embellished mini dress paired with black ankle-strap sandals at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
A Feminine Touch: Rooney Mara’s Giambattista Valli Ensemble
Rooney is known for her edgy and Gothic style, but the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star kept it feminine in a white mini dress for the event.
She donned a long-sleeved mini dress from Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2016 collection, which featured multi-colored floral embroidery and a thigh-skimming A-line skirt that showed off her legs.
Rooney Mara wears a long-sleeved embroidered Giambattista Valli dress on the red carpet with a pair of black ankle-strap sandals (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
The Finishing Touch: Rooney Mara’s Accessories and Style
Rooney kept things simple, choosing to accessorize the ladylike look with only a pair of black ankle-strap sandals.
She pulled her dark hair back into a neat bun with her signature razor-sharp center parting and kept her makeup light with eyeshadow, pink lipstick, pinkish blush, and defined brows.
Rooney Mara wears Giambattista Valli and Balenciaga on the red carpet (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)
Rooney picked a classic pair of black suede ankle-strap sandals by Balenciaga. These sandals featured buckled ankle straps, open toes, and about four-inch heels. Unfortunately, these sandals are no longer available for purchase.
Rooney Mara’s feet in classic black suede ankle-strap sandals by Balenciaga (Credit: Brian To / WENN / Nikki Nelson)