Age, Biography and Wiki
Kate Rooney Mara, born on February 27, 1983, is an American actress renowned for her versatile roles in film, television, and theater. She hails from the prominent Mara and Rooney families, both of which have deep roots in the National Football League (NFL) as founders of the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Despite coming from a family of sports moguls, Kate has carved her own path as a successful actress.
Her biography is marked by a mix of critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects, including her breakout role as Zoe Barnes in the Netflix political drama House of Cards. You can read more about Kate Mara on her official Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Stage Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 February 1983 |
| Age | 42 Years |
| Birth Place | Bedford, New York, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | U.S |
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise and current measurements for Kate Mara are not publicized, she is typically reported to be around 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall, with a slender build characteristic of her roles in both film and television.
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches |
| Weight | |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
Kate Mara is married to British actor Jamie Bell. The couple, who met on the set of the film Fantastic Four (2015), married in July 2017 and have children together.
Her parents are Timothy Christopher Mara, an NFL scout and vice president of the New York Giants for player evaluation, and Kathleen McNulty Mara (née Rooney). She is the second of four siblings, with one older brother, Daniel; one younger sister, the actress Patricia "Rooney"; and one younger brother, Conor. Her ancestry is Irish, one quarter Italian, and smaller amounts of German, French-Canadian, and English. Her father is one of 11 children, through whom she has 20 aunts and uncles, and 40 cousins.
She is a great-granddaughter of both New York Giants founder Tim Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. Her mother's side of the family has held ownership in the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers football team since its formation in 1933, and her father's side of the family has held ownership in the NFL's New York Giants since its formation in 1925. Her paternal grandparents were Wellington Mara and Ann Mara. Wellington co-owned the Giants football team from 1959 until his death in 2005, and was succeeded by his son (Kate Mara's uncle), John Mara, who is currently President, CEO, and co-owner of the team. Kate Mara's maternal grandfather, Timothy James "Tim" Rooney, has operated Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York since 1972. Her granduncle, Dan Rooney, chairman of the Steelers, was a former United States Ambassador to Ireland and the co-founder of the charitable organization The Ireland Funds. Her first cousin, once removed, Art Rooney II, is the current president and co-owner of the Steelers.
Mara's first recurring television role was in the FX Drama Nip Tuck in a love triangle with her boyfriend Matt McNamara (John Hensley) and another cheerleader (Sophia Bush). Mara also appeared on Cold Case, Boston Public, CSI: Miami and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
In 2012, Mara joined the cast of House of Cards, playing the part of Zoe Barnes, an intrepid reporter from Washington, D.C. who becomes a major ally to Frank Underwood by leaking stories that undermine his rivals. She filmed a second season of the series, which was released on February 14, 2014. On July 10, 2014, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She played a teacher who begins an illicit relationship with an underage student in the FX miniseries A Teacher (2020). For it, she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best New Scripted Series as an executive producer.
In 2009, Mara filmed the independent comedy Peep World, starring Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman and Rainn Wilson, and joined the cast of Marvel's Iron Man 2, making a cameo appearance as a U.S. Marshal who serves Tony Stark a subpoena. Mara shot the ensemble romantic comedy Happythankyoumoreplease in New York City in July 2009. She plays a waitress and aspiring singer named Mississippi, in a story about six single New Yorkers in their 20s. The film was written and directed by actor Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother). The film won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. In 2010, Mara played hiker Kristi Moore in the survival drama 127 Hours, a true story directed by Danny Boyle about Aron Ralston, a climber trapped while mountaineering in Utah.
Mara was in a relationship with Max Minghella between 2010 and 2014. In 2014, Mara had a brief relationship with future My Days of Mercy co-star Elliot Page before beginning a relationship with her Fantastic Four co-star Jamie Bell in 2015. In January 2017, the couple was engaged. On July 17, 2017, the couple announced that they had married. As a result, Mara became the stepmother to Bell's son from his marriage to Evan Rachel Wood. On November 17, 2022, Mara announced on Instagram that she had given birth to a son the week before. Mara lives in Los Angeles and Manhattan.
As a descendant of the owners of the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, Mara is a fan of both teams; she joked, "If I'm mad at my mom, I root for the Giants, and if I'm pissed at my dad, I root for the Steelers." This relationship contributed to her role in We Are Marshall. Mara has sung at both teams' games, and after missing the Steelers' 2006 victory at Super Bowl XL due to work, her contracts state she can attend if either team goes to the Super Bowl. She was in attendance for the Giants' victory in Super Bowl XLII, the Steelers' victory the next year in Super Bowl XLIII, and the Giants' victory in Super Bowl XLVI.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Jamie Bell (m. 2017) |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Kate Mara’s net worth is estimated to be between $14 and $18 million, reflecting her extensive work in film, television, and theater. The variation in estimates is due to differing valuation methods and portfolio updates. Her annual salary is not publicly disclosed but is supplemented by lucrative acting contracts and endorsements.
Career, Business and Investments
Career Highlights
- Television: Notable for her role as Zoe Barnes in House of Cards (2013–2016), Shari Rothenberg in 24 (2006), and appearances in American Horror Story: Murder House (2011) and Pose (2018).
- Film: She has appeared in over 30 films, including Fantastic Four (2015), The Martian (2015), Chappaquiddick (2018), Megan Leavey (2017), and Brokeback Mountain (2005).
- Theater: Mara has also performed on stage, including roles in Landscape of the Body (2003) and The Alice Complex (2005, 2006).
Social Network
Kate Mara is active on social media, primarily on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her professional and personal life. Her following is robust, reflecting her status as a public figure.
Kate Rooney Mara (born February 27, 1983 ) is an American actress. She is known for her work in television, playing reporter Zoe Barnes in the Netflix political drama House of Cards (2013–2014; 2016), computer analyst Shari Rothenberg in the Fox thriller series 24 (2006), wronged mistress Hayden McClaine in the FX miniseries American Horror Story: Murder House (2011), Patty Bowes in the first season of the FX drag ball culture drama series Pose (2018), and a teacher involved with an underage student in the FX miniseries A Teacher (2020).
Mara was cast as the lead in the 2004 The WB pilot Prodigy, about a teenage child prodigy. She had a recurring role on the WB's Jack & Bobby in 2005 and a five-episode arc on the Fox TV series 24 in 2006, playing computer analyst Shari Rothenberg. Mara joined the cast of the HBO comedy-drama Entourage for the series' sixth season in 2009. She played Brittany, Eric "E" Murphy (Kevin Connolly)'s assistant at his talent-management company and a potential love interest. Mara filmed four episodes for the series in 2009. In 2011, she guest starred on the FX horror series American Horror Story, as Hayden McClaine, a student who becomes Dr. Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott)'s dead mistress, a spirit trapped in the Harmon house. Mara was offered the role by Ryan Murphy, her former producer on Nip/Tuck.
Mara made her film debut in Random Hearts, with Harrison Ford in 1999, directed by Sydney Pollack. She played Jessica Chandler, the daughter of a congresswoman (Kristin Scott Thomas). She next appeared in the Sundance Film Festival award-winning films Joe the King (1999) and Tadpole (2002), alongside Sigourney Weaver. Mara co-starred in Peoples (2004), a drama and coming of age story filmed in Louisville, Kentucky. She starred in the direct-to-video horror film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary and appeared with Noah Wyle and Illeana Douglas in the 2005 film The Californians. Her supporting role as the daughter of Heath Ledger's character in the Academy Award-winning film Brokeback Mountain that year brought her more widespread critical notice.
Mara appeared in Ironclad (2011), which tells the story of the siege of Rochester Castle by King John in the year 1215. It is her first film where she speaks in an English accent. Mara appeared in the short film Ten Year, produced by Channing Tatum to attract financing for a feature film. The full-length feature went into production in Albuquerque in January 2010, with Mara starring in a large ensemble cast film about a 10-year high school reunion. In 2012, Mara starred in Stefan Ruzowitzky's thriller Deadfall with Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde. In 2013, Mara starred in Broken Bells video for the song Holding On For Life. Mara appeared in Transcendence (2014), starring Johnny Depp and directed by Wally Pfister.
Education
Kate Mara attended Fox Lane High School in Bedford, New York, and later graduated from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan. She did not pursue a traditional college education, opting instead to focus on her acting career from an early age.
Mara began acting at the age of nine in a school musical. She attended several youth theater-arts schools and appeared in community theater and in school plays. In an Esquire magazine interview, she says she was "painfully shy" growing up, adding she only had one friend.
Her first audition was for the NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street. She did not get the role, but knew from then on she wanted to act. Mara graduated from Fox Lane High School a year early, and was accepted into the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University to study musical theater, but deferred her slot to work as an actress.
Mara signed with the William Morris Agency, and was included on the New York Daily News list of "10 young actors who have a shot at making it big" at the start of 2006. She appeared in Zoom that year as Summer Jones (aka Wonder), a 16-year-old girl with telekinetic and empathic abilities. She next appeared in We Are Marshall, starring Matthew McConaughey, which recalled the aftermath of the 1970 Marshall University plane crash that took the lives of most of the football team. Mara played cheerleader Annie Cantrell.
In 2007, she appeared in the comedy Full of It with Ryan Pinkston for New Line Cinema. The film later aired on television as Big Liar on Campus. Mara was also featured in an advertising campaign for clothing retailer Gap called, "khakis with attitude." She appeared in Shooter, a thriller about a master sniper portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, lured out of retirement to prevent an assassination. Mara played a Kentucky widow, Sarah Fenn, adopting a southern accent for the role.
