Rooney Mara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rooney Mara
Mara in 2024
Born	Patricia Rooney Mara (1985-04-17) April 17, 1985 (age 40) Bedford, New York, U.S.
Other names	Tricia Mara
Education	New York University (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005–present
Spouse(s)	Joaquin Phoenix (2016–present)
Children	2
Relatives	Kate Mara (sister)
Family	Rooney Mara
Awards	Full list

Rooney Mara Phoenix (pronounced MAIR-ə; born Patricia Rooney Mara; April 17, 1985) is an American actress. She has won many awards. These include nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award.

Rooney Mara comes from the famous Rooney and Mara families. She started her acting career in TV shows and independent films. One of her early roles was in the drama Tanner Hall (2009). She became more known for her part in David Fincher's film The Social Network (2010). Mara had a big breakthrough when she played Lisbeth Salander in Fincher's thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). This role earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Mara continued her career with main roles in films like Side Effects (2013) and Her (2013). She also starred in the romantic drama Carol (2015). For Carol, she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later, she appeared in Lion (2016) and A Ghost Story (2017). She played Mary Magdalene in the film Mary Magdalene (2018). After a short break, Mara starred in Nightmare Alley (2021) and Women Talking (2022).

Mara is also known for her charity work. She helps lead the Uweza Foundation. This group supports children and families in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. She also started a vegan clothing line called Hiraeth Collective.

Early Life and Education

Rooney Mara was born on April 17, 1985. She grew up in Bedford, New York. This town is about 40 miles (64 km) north of New York City. Her mother's family started the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. Her father's family started the New York Giants football team. Her father, Timothy Christopher Mara, works for the New York Giants. Her mother, Kathleen McNulty, is a part-time real estate agent. Rooney is the third of four children. She has an older brother, Daniel, and an older sister, Kate Mara, who is also an actress. She also has a younger brother, Conor.

Mara's family has roots from Ireland, Germany, French-Canada, and Italy. Her ancestors from the Rooney side came from Newry, County Down. Her grandfathers were important figures in American football. Her great-grandfathers founded the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After finishing Fox Lane High School in 2003, Mara traveled to Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. She spent four months learning in different environments. She then went to George Washington University for a year. Later, she moved to New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. There, she studied psychology and how non-profit groups work. She graduated in 2010.

Mara was inspired to act by watching musicals and classic movies with her mother. She also wanted to be like her older sister, Kate Mara, who was already an actress. Rooney was not sure about acting when she was younger. She told The Journal News that it "never seemed that honorable to me." Her first role in high school was playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She started auditioning for roles at age nineteen.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Work (2005–2009)

Mara first appeared as an extra in films with her sister. This included a small part in the 2005 horror film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary. She started working in television in 2006. Her first TV role was in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She played a girl who bullied other children. She also appeared in Women's Murder Club and The Cleaner. Mara's first feature film was Dream Boy (2008). She also guest-starred in two episodes of NBC's ER.

Mara at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2009, Mara got her first main role in the coming-of-age film Tanner Hall. This film was shown at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. After working on this film, Mara decided to use her middle name, Rooney, professionally. She told Paper magazine, "I never really liked my first name... And Rooney is more memorable."

Mara also played Taggarty in the comedy-drama Youth in Revolt. She appeared in Dare and The Winning Season in 2009. Both films premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Filmmaker magazine named her one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" that year.

In 2010, Mara starred in a remake of the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street. She played the main character, Nancy Holbrook. Mara said her Nancy was "completely different from the original." She found making the film difficult. It even made her wonder if she wanted to continue acting.

Breakthrough and Acclaim (2010–2016)

Mara at the French premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2012

In 2010, Mara played Erica Albright in David Fincher's film The Social Network. Later that year, Mara was chosen for the lead role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This film was based on the first book of the Millennium trilogy. She played Lisbeth Salander, a smart computer hacker. David Fincher directed the film. Mara prepared for the role by cutting and dyeing her hair black. She also got her ears pierced and wore a temporary dragon tattoo. She learned to skateboard and kickbox. The film was released in December 2011. Mara received great reviews for her performance. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 2012, Mara joined the cast of Spike Jonze's film Her (2013). She played Catherine Klausen, the ex-wife of the main character, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Mara also starred in Steven Soderbergh's thriller Side Effects (2013). She played Emily Taylor, a woman who uses medicine to deal with anxiety. She also appeared in Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013). This film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. In May 2013, she became the face of a new Calvin Klein perfume.

Mara attending the premiere of Carol with director Todd Haynes and Cate Blanchett at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

In 2014, Mara's only film was the crime drama Trash. In 2015, Mara starred with Cate Blanchett in Carol. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It received a long standing ovation. Mara won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her role. Her performance was highly praised. She was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

The same year, Mara played Tiger Lily in the fantasy film Pan. This role received some criticism. People felt it was wrong to cast a non-Native American actress in a Native American role. Mara later said she regretted her part in the film.

In 2016, Mara lent her voice to the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings. She then starred in Una and Lion. Lion was very popular with critics. It received six Oscar nominations.

Recent Films (2017–Present)

In 2017, Mara appeared in The Discovery and A Ghost Story. Both films premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Mara also starred with Ryan Gosling and Natalie Portman in Song to Song.

Mara appeared in Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) with Joaquin Phoenix. The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. That same year, Mara starred again with Phoenix in Mary Magdalene. She also narrated the animal rights documentary Dominion. For this, she received an award for narration.

After a short break, Mara co-starred in the thriller Nightmare Alley (2021). The film received good reviews and was nominated for four Academy Awards. In 2022, Mara starred in Women Talking. She will next appear in a film called La Cocina.

Other Work and Charity

In 2018, Rooney Mara, Sara Schloat, and Chrys Wong started a vegan clothing line called Hiraeth Collective. It includes clothes, shoes, and accessories. The items are made in Los Angeles, California.

Mara also founded a charity called Faces of Kibera. Its goal was to help orphans in Kibera, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya. The charity wanted to build an orphanage and provide housing, food, and medical care. Mara visited the area in 2006 and wanted to help the children there. She felt frustrated that many non-profits were not truly helping people. "So I started my own," she told Interview magazine in 2009.

In 2011, Faces of Kibera joined with the Uweza Foundation. This foundation runs programs in Kibera, like soccer leagues and after-school tutoring. "Uweza" means "opportunity, ability, and power" in Swahili. Mara is now the president of the board of directors for the Uweza Foundation.

Personal Life

Mara moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and lived with her sister, Kate. This experience brought them closer. As of 2012, Mara lived in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. She looks up to actress Gena Rowlands for inspiration.

Since late 2016, she has been in a relationship with actor Joaquin Phoenix. They starred together in Her (2013), Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018), and Mary Magdalene (2018). Mara is vegan. They live in the Hollywood Hills with their two dogs. They announced their engagement in 2019. Mara gave birth to their son in August 2020. In 2020, Mara legally changed her name to Rooney Mara Phoenix. In June 2024, they welcomed their second child. In September 2024, Joaquin Phoenix confirmed their marriage.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See Also

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories
• List of animal rights advocates
• List of vegans