Vanity Fair picks Hollywood’s leading ladies for cover

LOS ANGELES:

Vanity Fair unveiled the cover of its annual Hollywood issue on Tuesday, which included Oscar nominees Rooney Mara and Jessica Chastain who were amongst the “fresh stars of 2012” chosen for the impact they made through films. “We’re looking for actors who are doing great work on the screen. And if they’re young and beautiful, well that doesn’t hurt either,” wrote Vanity Fair features editor Jane Sarkin in an email to Reuters.

The 11 stars picked alongside Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Chastain (The Help) for the prestigious three-page cover include last year’s best actor Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence and Albert Nobbs actor Mia Wasikowska.

They are joined on the cover insert by Martha Marcy May Marlene actor Elizabeth Olsen, The Descendants breakout star Shailene Woodley, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol action lady Paula Patton, Abduction star Lily Collins, Pariah actor Adepero Oduye, Chicago native writer-actor Brit Marling and Like Crazy actor Felicity Jones.

“This group has solid acting credentials. Some have already taken on great roles, and I think that all of these girls are on the go-to list for every film currently being cast,” explained Sarkin.

The art-deco style shoot, which sees the ladies wearing pastel coloured dresses with feathers and furs inspired by the Jazz Age of the 1920s and 30s, was conducted by famed photographer Mario Testino.

The annual cover of the March issue, which has featured stars such as Anne Hathaway, James Franco, Carey Mulligan and Amy Adams in recent years, was described by Sarkin as a “casting couch” that helped raise actors’ profiles.

The March issue of Vanity Fair will be available on newsstands from February 2. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2012.