Rosamund Pike Explains Why She Wore That Daring Dress to the Golden Globes

— -- Every awards season, the Oscars seem to sprinkle fairy dust on a budding actress, launching her to stardom.

And this is Rosamund Pike’s year.

Pike, 36, has grabbed the spotlight for her masterful performance as the icy, mysterious Amy Dunne in “Gone Girl,” a role that earned her an Oscar nod this year.

But she also turned heads, and even raised some eyebrows, recently when she stepped out on the red carpet at the Golden Globes in a stunning backless white gown with severe cuts on the side, just five weeks after giving birth to her second son.

While some questioned her fashion choice, Pike said the real reason she wore such a daring dress was because she didn’t “fit into any of the dresses” she tried on.

“You’ve got to take that knife out and start slashing,” she said, referring to the dress’ unique style.

Pike, it seems, is an overnight sensation 15 years in the making, having taken on smaller roles in other films, such as “Die Another Day” and “Pride and Prejudice.” Famed director David Fincher hand-picked her for the dark, juicy “Gone Girl” role.

“I think there's definitely -- the one's inner psycho can be embraced at all times,” she said, laughing.

In the film, Pike tangles with Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Amy Dunne’s ex Desi Collings, in a harrowing scene that is both gruesome and sexually explicit. Pike said scene required more than 30 takes.

“I think with Neil, I tried to protect his modesty as best I could,” Pike said. “I still remember saying to David, I said, ‘Oh, did I-- you know, did I protect him?’ And he was like, ‘Yes, you were like a little bloody codpiece.’”

She prepared for “Gone Girl” by boxing and getting herself into strong physical shape. In a fight scene with Ben Affleck, who plays the husband Amy Dunne frames, Pike said she hit her head so hard she saw stars, but used it as motivation.

“I think one of the takes that they use is actually when Ben really did hit me hard,” she said. “Then that anger ignites… there's a spontaneous anger because you think, ‘You hurt me,’ and then you do sort of punch back… But it's like a surfer with a wave. You feel it coming, you think, ‘Great, I can ride this one.’”