Little known American actress Rooney Mara will play the lead female role in the English film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Columbia Pictures has confirmed.

The 25-year-old brunette has beaten the likes of Hollywood starlets Emma Watson, Carey Mulligan and Natalie Portman to claim the sought-after role.

Rooney takes on the character of smart but anti-social hacker and private investigator, Lisbeth Salander, and will play opposite James Bond heart-throb Daniel Craig when the films begin shooting in Sweden next month.

The actress's credits include: Youth in Revolt, the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street as well as various smaller parts in TV dramas ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

All three films - which will be based on Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy - will be directed by David Fincher and the first one is set for release in December 2011.

Photo: � Getty Images