Carey Mulligan just climbed to the top of the Hollywood food chain.
The British actress, 25, has won the highly coveted role of Daisy Buchanan in director Baz Luhrman's upcoming adaptation of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzergerald's literary masterpiece. The Oscar-nominated star will perform opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.
Before announcing his decision, Luhrman "workshopped" with a bevy of A-list actresses: Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Abbie Cornish and Keira Knightley. (In a 1974 version of the roaring 20s epic, Mia Farrow played Daisy.)
According to Deadline, Mulligan got the good news via phone call while on the reception line at Monday's Fashion Council in NYC; with the imperious Vogue editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld standing nearby, Mulligan burst into tears on the red carpet.
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"Regarding the role of Daisy Buchanan, I was privileged to explore the character with some of the world's most talented actresses, each one bringing their own particular interpretation, all of which were legitimate and exciting," Luhrman told Deadline. "I was thrilled to pick up the phone an hour ago to the young Oscar-nominated British actress Carey Mulligan and say to her: 'Hello, Daisy Buchanan.'"
