SIx young and promising actresses are contending to land a role in one of the most prestigious Hollywood film parts of 2010, four of which are Australian.

Sophie Lowe from Beautiful Kate, Alice in Wonderland's Mia Wasikowska, Uninvited's Emily Browning and Sydney stage sensation Sarah Snook are all aiming to grab the role of awkwardly asocial but extremely intelligent Lisbeth Salander. The four actresses flew in to LA this week after being short-listed for the big-budget adaptation of Stieg Larsson's award-winning crime novel Girl With A Dragon Tattoo.

The women will not only be competing with each other, but also with two other leading ladies, who are both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominees.

English actress Carey Mulligan, from An Education, and Juno's Ellen Page are also being considered by the director for the role.

According to a film source, the four actresses have good chances for the part, as director David Flincher is said to have specifically requested a "reasonably obscure" talent.

Rumour has it that James Bond actor Daniel Craig will play as the male lead of journalist Mikael Blomkvist, a role that was originally given to Brad Pitt.

Distributor Sony Pictures said the film about reporter Mikael and computer hacker Lisbeth, who are researching a family history for a wealthy recluse, will hit the big screens on December 2011.