Emma Watson’s daring new haircut may have been about more than just liberation.

According to reports, the Harry Potter actress recently chopped off her luscious locks to help land the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the big screen adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s best-selling novel. (The project is also a remake of the Swedish 2009 entry.)

“Emma has auditioned with director David Fincher and cut her hair to look the part,” a source said. “The character of Lisbeth is a misfit with spiky hair.”

Throughout the books, the female computer hacker is involved in some racy scenes with both men and women, including a graphic and violent bedroom scene.

The actress who eventually nabs the part of Lisbeth, one of the biggest female roles currently in Hollywood, will star alongside Daniel Craig. The Casino Royale actor was recently cast as journalist Mikael Blomkvist.