There’s a reason you don’t forget Kate Mara once you’ve seen her on screen. Whether she’s playing a relentless political reporter in House of Cards or a calculating ghost in American Horror Story, she brings a focused intensity that feels personal.

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Born: February 27, 1983 · Spouse: Jamie Bell · Children: 2 · Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) · Notable Role: Zoe Barnes (House of Cards)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born February 27, 1983, in Bedford, New York (Wikipedia)
  • Younger sister of actress Rooney Mara (Wikipedia)
  • Married actor Jamie Bell on July 15, 2017 (IMDb)
  • Has two children: a daughter born in 2019 and a son born in 2022 (People)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly confirmed; estimates vary widely
  • Current religious practice not widely documented
  • Exact timeline of her relationship with Elliot Page not fully public
3Timeline signal
  • Film debut in Random Hearts (1999) (IMDb)
  • Breakthrough as Zoe Barnes in House of Cards (2013) (IMDb)
  • Married Jamie Bell in 2017 (IMDb)
  • Welcomed second child in 2022 (People)
4What’s next

Six key facts, one takeaway: Kate Mara’s life is a blend of Hollywood stardom and a deeply rooted family legacy in professional football.

Attribute Value
Full Name Kate Rooney Mara
Born February 27, 1983
Spouse Jamie Bell
Children 2
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Notable Role Zoe Barnes (House of Cards)

The implication: her stats line packs more dynasty history than most Hollywood résumés.

How many kids does Kate Mara have?

Kate Mara and her husband Jamie Bell have two children together. According to People, they welcomed a daughter in 2019 and a son in 2022. Bell also has a child from a previous relationship, making Mara a stepmother as well.

Who is Kate Mara married to?

She married English actor Jamie Bell on July 15, 2017. Bell is best known for his roles in Billy Elliot and The Adventures of Tintin. The couple met while filming Fantastic Four (2015) and have maintained a relatively private relationship since. They currently live in the UK, according to The Independent.

Does Kate Mara have siblings?

She is the second of four children born to Kathleen McNulty and Timothy Christopher Mara. Her siblings include Daniel, Rooney (also an actress), and Conor. Rooney Mara is her younger sister and a two-time Academy Award nominee for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Carol. The two sisters are close but keep their personal lives largely out of the spotlight (Wikipedia).

The upshot

Kate Mara’s family tree includes two NFL ownership dynasties—the Maras (New York Giants) and the Rooneys (Pittsburgh Steelers). That heritage makes her one of the most connected actresses in Hollywood, though she rarely leans on it professionally.

What is Kate Mara most famous for?

Her breakout role came in 2013 when she portrayed Zoe Barnes, the ambitious political reporter on Netflix’s House of Cards. The role earned her widespread recognition and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (IMDb).

What are Kate Mara’s notable movie roles?

Beyond television, Mara has built a solid film career. She played Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, in Fantastic Four (2015) alongside Jamie Bell. She appeared in Ridley Scott’s The Martian (2015) as astronaut Beth Johanssen, and earlier in Brokeback Mountain (2005) and We Are Marshall (2006). She also starred in Shooter (2007) and the indie thriller The Girlfriend Experience (IMDb).

What TV shows has Kate Mara starred in?

Mara’s television credits are extensive. She played computer analyst Shari Rothenberg in the final season of 24, and appeared in American Horror Story: Murder House as Hayden McClaine, a role she reprised in American Horror Story: Asylum (All American Speakers). In 2020, she starred in the FX limited series A Teacher, which she also executive produced. Earlier in her career, she had guest roles on Law & Order: SVU and Nip/Tuck (IMDb).

Why this matters

Mara’s ability to move between blockbuster franchises (Marvel, Ridley Scott) and critically acclaimed TV (Netflix’s first original series) proves she’s not just a “political drama actress”—she’s a versatile performer capable of anchoring both film and streaming projects.

The implication: Mara’s career is defined by smart choices rather than sheer volume—she picks projects that stretch her range, from horror to sci-fi to period drama.

What ethnicity is Kate Mara?

Kate Mara’s background reflects a mix of European ancestry. According to Wikipedia, her father is of Italian descent, while her mother has German and Irish roots. Her full birth name, Kate Rooney Mara, honors the Rooney side of the family, which founded the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What religion does Kate Mara practice?

Mara was raised Catholic, as noted by multiple biographical sources (TV Guide). Whether she continues to actively practice is not widely documented in public interviews. She has not spoken extensively about her religious views.

Bottom line: Kate Mara’s ethnicity is a blend of Italian, German, and Irish, and her upbringing was Catholic. But she keeps her current spiritual life private, leaving fans to speculate rather than confirm.

Did Elliot Page have a relationship with Kate Mara?

Yes. Elliot Page and Kate Mara had a secret romantic relationship early in their careers. Page revealed the relationship in his 2023 memoir Pageboy, describing how they connected while working together.

Details of the secret romance

Page and Mara met on the set of a short film and were together for a period in the early 2010s, before either had achieved mainstream fame. Page wrote candidly about falling in love with Mara and the challenges of keeping their relationship private amid the pressures of Hollywood. The two have not publicly commented on the relationship since the memoir’s release.

How did Elliot Page reveal the relationship?

In Pageboy, Page dedicated several passages to the relationship, calling it a formative experience. According to Wikipedia, the memoir details Page’s early life and relationships, including the one with Mara.

“I fell in love with her.”

— Elliot Page, as quoted in Wikipedia (from Pageboy)

The trade-off: The secrecy of the relationship meant that both actresses could build their careers without public scrutiny, but it also meant a lack of recognition for Page’s identity at the time.

Is Kate Mara wealthy?

Kate Mara’s net worth is estimated at around $15 million, though no official figures have been publicly confirmed. Her wealth comes primarily from acting roles in television and film, endorsements, and producing work (IMDb).

What is Kate Mara’s net worth?

Estimates vary widely across online platforms. Bored Panda cites a range of $12–$20 million, while other sources place it closer to $15 million. The lack of a publicly audited financial disclosure means these numbers remain speculative. Still, Mara’s consistent work since the late 1990s, coupled with family wealth from the Mara and Rooney NFL franchises, suggests she is comfortably well-off.

How did she earn her wealth?

Her primary income stream is acting. Roles in House of Cards (which earned her a SAG Award nomination), Fantastic Four, and The Martian commanded substantial paychecks. She has also ventured into producing, notably on the FX series A Teacher, which likely added to her earnings.

The catch

Much of the public discussion about Mara’s wealth overlooks her family background: the Mara and Rooney families own two of the most valuable franchises in professional sports. That inheritance probably provides a financial safety net that most actors don’t have.

What this means: Kate Mara’s net worth is a blend of earned income and family legacy, making her financial profile unusual even among Hollywood actresses.

Confirmed facts

  • She has two children with Jamie Bell.
  • She is the sister of Rooney Mara.
  • She was raised Catholic and has Italian, German, and Irish ancestry.
  • She had a secret romantic relationship with Elliot Page.
  • Her birth date is February 27, 1983.

What’s unclear

  • Her exact net worth is not publicly confirmed; estimates vary.
  • Whether she currently practices a religion is not widely documented.
  • The exact timeline of her relationship with Elliot Page is not fully public.

“I feel very grateful for the life I have and the family I’ve built.”

— Kate Mara, in an interview with The Independent

For American audiences, the choice is clear: Kate Mara is neither a one-role wonder nor simply “the sister of Rooney Mara.” She has carved out a distinct career that balances mainstream success with personal privacy. If you’re looking for a performer who can anchor a franchise, deliver an indie indie, and keep her family life out of the tabloids, Mara’s career is the blueprint.

Additional sources

famousbirthdays.com, bookingagentinfo.com, youtube.com, tiktok.com, youtube.com

For a deeper look into her personal life, this article covers Elliot Page revelations in detail.

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Frequently asked questions

What actress looks like Kate Mara?

Many fans note a resemblance between Kate Mara and her sister Rooney Mara, as well as actress Bryce Dallas Howard. The similarities often come down to fair skin, dark hair, and sharp facial features.

What is Kate Mara’s height?

She stands 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) tall, according to TV Guide.

What is Kate Mara’s birth name?

Her full name is Kate Rooney Mara. “Rooney” comes from her mother’s family name.

Does Kate Mara have any siblings?

Yes, she has three siblings: older brother Daniel, younger sister Rooney, and younger brother Conor.

What awards has Kate Mara won?

She has not won major individual acting awards, but she was part of the cast of House of Cards that received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2014.

How did Kate Mara meet Jamie Bell?

They met on the set of Fantastic Four (2015), where Bell played the Thing and Mara played Sue Storm. They began dating during production and married in 2017.

What is Kate Mara’s favorite role?

She has said in interviews that she particularly enjoyed playing Zoe Barnes in House of Cards because of the complexity of the character and the show’s groundbreaking format on streaming TV.

Do Kate and Rooney Mara get along?

Yes, the sisters are reportedly close. They have supported each other’s careers publicly and have been spotted together at red carpet events. Both keep their personal lives private, but there is no public evidence of a rift.

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