Patricia Rooney Mara, known professionally as Rooney Mara, is a talented actress and philanthropist born on April 17, 1985, in Bedford, New York. She is the daughter of Kathleen McNulty and Timothy Christopher Mara, a New York Giants executive, and the granddaughter of Wellington Mara, co-owner of the Giants, and Timothy Rooney, owner of Yonkers Raceway.
Rooney Mara's ancestry is a mix of Irish, German, French-Canadian, and Italian descent. Her great-grandfather was Art Rooney, the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers football franchise. Her family has a strong tradition of involvement in philanthropic causes, which has influenced her own charitable endeavors.
After graduating from Fox Lane High School, Mara went on to attend George Washington University and later transferred to New York University, where she studied international social policy psychology and nonprofits. She received her degree from New York University in 2010.
Rooney Mara's interest in acting began when she was young, inspired by her older sister, actress Kate Mara. She started focusing on acting during her time at New York University, appearing in student films and eventually landing her first lead role in the independent film Tanner Hall (2009). Her performance in this film earned her a "Rising Star" award at the 2009 Hamptons Film Festival and a "Stargazer Award" at the 2010 Gen Art Film Festival.
She gained recognition for her role in the horror remake A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) and the biographical drama The Social Network (2010). Her performance as Lisbeth Salander in the thriller remake The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) earned her critical acclaim and numerous award nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama.
Rooney Mara has continued to impress audiences with her performances in films such as Side Effects (2013),Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013),Her (2013),Trash (2014),and Carol (2015). Her performance in Carol earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and numerous award nominations, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama and the SAG, BAFTA, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In addition to her acting career, Rooney Mara is also a dedicated philanthropist. She created Faces of Kibera, a charity that provides food, medical care, and housing to orphans in Nairobi, Kenya's Kibra district, a small slum that houses a million people.
