Mara starred in a remake of the 1984 horror film '' A Nightmare on Elm Street '' , as the protagonist Nancy Holbrook , a high school student victimized by Freddy Krueger ( Jackie Earle Haley ) . Mara began shooting the film in Chicago on May 5 , 2009 , directed by Samuel Bayer . Mara told '' Filmmaker '' that she felt that her Nancy was " completely different from the original " and " the loneliest girl in the world " . Mara had signed on to continue her role if a sequel was made . She stated to '' Vogue '' that she disliked the experience of making the film so much , that it made her question if she wanted to be an actress . Mara appeared at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2009 as part of its Breakthrough Performers Program , where she was tutored by Sharon Stone
Hamptons International Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival
Rooney Mara