Rooney, along with her “Tanner Hall” co-stars Amy Ferguson and Georgia King, made the Toronto Star’s list of standout “fresh faces” at the annual Toronto International Film Festival. Along with a glowing review of Rooney’s performance, a new portrait image of the 3 was featured, which you can view in our gallery now.

Fresh faces at TIFF
Which new stars made a claim on fame at the film festival this year? Here are our picks

Amy Ferguson, Georgia King, Rooney Mara

First-time directors Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini have assembled a cast of outstanding young actresses for their film Tanner Hall, a drama set in a girls’ boarding school in northern New England. All in their early 20s (and coy about giving their ages), Americans Amy Ferguson and Rooney Mara and Scottish-born Georgia King are solid and believable as three teens on the verge of womanhood facing tough decisions and hard learning lessons about consequences.

These are the first leading roles for this trio of young actresses (the fourth star, Brie Larson, wasn’t at TIFF), although they have screen credits ranging from TV to theatre and small movies. During an interview with the Star, the actresses said they hope the as-yet-unsold Tanner Hall will find a waiting audience of young women who often feel overlooked by Hollywood’s desire to cater to teen boys. King’s first screen role was as Lady Teazle in The Duchess – which was at TIFF last year – starring alongside Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. In Tanner Hall she’s the bad seed, a new girl who sets out to manipulate and destroy others. King balances a credible portrayal of evil with vulnerability.

Rooney Mara, younger sister of actress Kate (TIFF closer last year, The Stone of Destiny), has the most challenging role, taking on the part of wise yet unworldly Fernanda, who finds herself drawn into an affair with an older family friend (Tom Everett Scott). Her portrayal of a girl’s torment over her actions and rising panic about her choices is credible and note perfect.

Mara has the lead in director Samuel Bayer’s re-imagining of A Nightmare on Elm Street, due next year. She also appeared alongside Michael Cera in another TIFF film, Youth in Revolt. As Lucasta, a scholarship student who seems unaware – or unwilling to acknowledge – that she is questioning her sexual identity, Amy Ferguson takes on her first major role.