Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman on ‘Lion’ at TIFF

It’s only fitting that the family that inspired the film “Lion,” the Brierleys, gave the actors courage in their roles. Director Garth Davis, and stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman of “Lion” visited the Variety Studio presented by airbnb to discuss their drama debuting at the Toronto Film Festival. “It’s a cliche to say, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime role for someone like me — to embody a real-life person who lived such a life,” Patel said. “It was so meaty and kind of introverted and stirring and soulful; immediately I knew I wanted to do this film.”