Oscars 2012: Rooney Mara Lights Up

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Monday, February 27, 2012

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" star Rooney Mara has shined brightly at the 84th Annual Academy Oscar Awards on Sunday.

Although she missed out on the Best Actress award, Mara has topped many of this year's "Best Dressed" lists this year.

The normally dark-clad actress wore a white Givenchy gown to the awards ceremony and pinned her raven hair into a high bun. The flowing light gown came with a plunging neckline and revealed much of Mara's back while her pale features were emphasized with red lipstick.

Mara told E! News red carpet host Ryan Seacrest that she had chosen the dress at the last minute.

"I did think a lot about what I was going to wear," explained Mara speaking to MTV News. "It's a long process. I like to wear white also. I wanted to mix it up. This just happened to be the most beautiful dress, that's why I wore it."

"White was a huge trend on the red carpet tonight," explained MTV's style expert Mary H.K. Choi on Sunday. Choi agreed that Mara's Givenchy gown was a good selection.

"This stark, architectural Givenchy looked absolutely surreal against the phosphorescence of her alabaster skin," said Choi. "She looked just pristine, and the fast that her impossibly shiny, jet-black hair was in a tight bun with blunt bangs really anchored the look. She dresses with a certain severity, given her young age, but I'm a huge fan."

Also wearing white at Sunday's Oscar Awards were Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz. Both actresses graced "Best Dressed" lists as well.

Diaz donned a Gucci gown with a beaded Art Deco fringe and a matching clutch, while Paltrow stunned in a white Tom Ford gown complete with a cape.

E! News commentate Giuliana Rancic's white Tony Ward gown also made waves with critics with its leafy details at the shoulders. Additionally, "The Help" actress Octavia Spencer's figure-hugging ivory Tadashi Shoji gown was another white hot hit.

Critics as well as Mara's fans sounded off about her red carpet look on Twitter Sunday.

"Rooney Mara in WHITE not BLACK, & looks AMAZING #Oscars," posted the Twitter account for Entertainment Weekly.

"The matte red lip on Rooney Mara is divine," posted Twitter user Gwen.

"Oooh, I just saw the back of Rooney Mara's Givenchy dress," wrote Styleite on the social media site. "Gorgeous. Though we have to say, she looks ever so slightly uncomfortable in it."

Molly disapprovingly wrote, "I've been having night terrors about Rooney Mara's bangs."

Mara will appear in the upcoming film "The Bitter Pill," alongside Channing Tatum and Jude Law. The actress will play a wife who turns to prescription medicines in order to deal with her husband's release from prison. The crime-drama will begin filming this summer.