Page 3 Profile: Carey Mulligan, actress

Carey Mulligan is set to beat a string of American rivals to play the role of Hillary Clinton in a biopic (EPA; Getty images)

Another stunning performance on the way?

It’s highly probable. Mulligan, who recently gave a brilliant turn in the otherwise uneven Great Gatsby, is the favourite to play Hillary Clinton in a new biopic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the British actress is the producers’ top choice for the title role in Rodham (Clinton’s maiden name), ahead of Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain.

It can’t be as boring as Spielberg’s Lincoln, surely?

Hollywood often treats politicians with a reverence that doesn’t necessarily make for exciting, explosive films. But the signs on this one are good. Director James Ponsoldt, who is said to be sold on Mulligan’s pitch for the starring role, helmed The Spectacular Now, which earned rave reviews at Sundance. Young-il Kim (no jokes, please), who majored in economics at Harvard, is responsible for the script, and he’s being lauded as one of Tinseltown’s hottest new writing talents.

Isn’t she a bit young for the role?

It’s set during the height of the Watergate scandal, when Clinton becomes the youngest lawyer chosen for the House Committee on the Judiciary to impeach Nixon. She finds herself forced to choose between her path to the White House and her unresolved feelings for a dashing young man named Bill. Everybody knows what happens there. Mulligan should know about having a famous other half – her husband is Marcus Mumford, of Mumford & Sons.

So basically, the Oscar is hers.

She could face some competition from… herself. Mulligan has also signed up for an adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd by the acclaimed Danish director Thomas Vinterberg, as well as a new dramatic project with Robert Pattinson. And let’s not forget that she’s in the Coen Brothers’ new film, Inside Llewyn Davis – a Cannes highlight and a surefire contender come awards season.