The minute speculation began about an American version of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” back in January, it became a fun cocktail party topic: Which up-and-coming actress would best embody Stieg Larsson’s punk hacker Lisbeth Salander?
The first major rumor was Kristen Stewart, of the “Twilight” series. Like Lisbeth, Stewart makes sullenness an art form, so it made a certain amount of sense.
Then in April, the Times of London wrongly reported that Carey Mulligan (“An Education”) had snagged the role, that it was a done deal. “I am obsessed with those books,” the story quoted Mulligan as saying. “I would love to do them. I am not going to lie about that. I would love to play Lisbeth Salander.” Oh well!
And then the floodgates opened. It seemed like every twentysomething actress with a button nose and a couple indie-film credits was auditioning for the part. Natalie Portman, it was rumored, turned down the role, and maybe wisely; at 29, she’s too old. As for the others, we can only guess:
Scarlett Johansson: Too busty
Anne Hathaway: Too princessy
Evan Rachel Wood: Too obvious
Ellen Page: Too sexual
Alison Pill: Too theater-y
Emma Watson: Too Hermione