Rooney Mara will receive this year’s Cinema Vanguard award from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, for her performance in Todd Haynes‘ “Carol.”
Mara’s co-star in the 1940s lesbian drama, Cate Blanchett, will hand her the prize at a February 12 California ceremony, two hours north of Los Angeles.
“From her scene-stealing turn in ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ to her outstanding performance in his year’s ‘Carol,’ Rooney has repeatedly showcased her talents as one of the most gifted actors of her generation. I truly admire the enigmatic and complex nature of her performances,” said Roger Durling, Director of the SBIFF.
The Cinema Vanguard Award recognizes artistic risks taken in a given year. Recent winners include Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio and Amy Adams.
In addition to Mara, this year’s festival will honor Johnny Depp with the Maltin Modern Master Award for “Black Mass” and a split prize of Outstanding Performers of the Year will go to Brie Larson (“Room”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”). The cast of “Spotlight” will take the American Riviera Award.