This Oscar nominee plays a bad girl on screen, but Rooney Mara tends to play it safe—at least when it comes to color—in her red-carpet fashion choices, opting for monochromatic looks in black, white, or nude. The dress designs, however, are far from tame and have evolved from pretty and sweet to fierce and daring. It seems as though Rooney can’t quite shake the part of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. But we’re not complaining. Her performance may just land her an Oscar. And we love her dark pixie cut, off-kilter fashion choices, and dark, brooding stare. Here’s a look at her fashion evolution and proof that a girl can never have too much black in her closet.

Golden Globe Awards, 2012

National Board of Review Awards, 2012

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” World Premiere, 2011

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” New York City Premiere, 2011