(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Rooney Mara has "really enjoyed being a boy" since her casting as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The American actress underwent a dramatic transformation after learning she was to play the title character in the movie which is based on Stieg Larsson's popular Millennium book series.
Rooney plays a no-nonsense computer hacker in the film, and had to rough up her appearance for the role, which she strangely enjoyed.
"Before, I dressed much girlier," she told the November issue of Vogue. "A lot of blush-coloured things. Now I literally roll out of bed and put on whatever is there. I have really enjoyed being a boy this last year."
Rooney's transformation was drastic. Director David Fincher brought in hairstylist Danilo to give the actress a complete new look.
"[He] cut my hair, shaved the sides, bleached the eyebrows, then dyed my hair black," she explained. "Then we went and did the piercingsall in one day. I went in looking like Erica Albright [The Social Network character]and I came out like this.
"The eyebrows were the biggest shock because that really changed my face, and I didn't recognise myself. But I was fine because I knew it was going to be really helpful for getting into character."
Aside from the hair restyle, body and facial piercings, Rooney also underwent an extensive beauty overhaul. Makeup artist, Pat McGrath was brought in to help further bring the character of Lisbeth to life.
"We went from the white-powdered sick-clown makeup to stitches in the face all the way to greasy, bloody eyes," McGarth said. "I instantly knew how I could make her character so different. And then once the hair was cut in that mad shape, I was like, well, the eyebrows have got to go."
Rooney was told to get drunk before a meeting to convince Sony she could play the dark lead in the highly anticipated film. The star took the wise words a little too far though, as the abundance of alcohol made her really ill.
"Go out and get really, really drunk and come in the next morning so we can take pictures of you," Fincher recalls.
"And I did it!" she said. "Threw up all night!"
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo opens December 21. (C) Cover Media