Many directors have attempted to cast this role. The results have ranged from the melodramatic (over-acting the trauma) to the stoic (underplaying the complexity). What Woodman realized—and what sets this casting apart—is that Rebecca requires an actor who can speak volumes in silence. She needs eyes that have seen loss, but a jaw that refuses to stay down.
The Evolution of a Role: Why "Woodman Casting Rebecca Better" Marks a Turning Point woodman casting rebecca better