Kate Marafeels like one of the more underrated actors working in Hollywood, but she has consistently put out incredible performances in various movies and TV shows over the past couple of decades. She made her film debut in 1999 with Random Hearts and has since gone on to have roles in other projects likeWe Are Marshall,Shooter,Ridley Scott’s remarkableThe Martian,Megan Leavey,My Days of Mercy, andBrokeback Mountain.
Alongside appearing in a variety of films, Mara has also had some significant roles in several TV shows, with her performance inHouse of Cardsbeing arguably her most well-known role. She has also appeared inA Teacher,American Story: Murder House,the first season of the long-runningAmerican Horror Storyseries, and24. Kate Mara’s 2025 looks strong with two upcoming films,The DutchmanandThe Astronaut.
10 Yearsoften feels underrated within the romantic comedy genre, but it is a fantastic film with an incredible cast. It follows a group of friends returning to their high school for their 10-year anniversary. Where the film truly shines is the complexity of its characters and their willingness to be open about their struggles and how their lives have gone since they were last together. Movies about high school reunions can often feel silly, but10 Yearscrafts an emotionally affecting and funny take on the premise.
Movies about high school reunions can often feel silly, but10 Yearscrafts an emotionally affecting and funny take on the premise.
Kata Mara is really strong as Elise in10 Years, a reclusive student who never really connected with others in high school. Oscar Isaac’s Reeves, who became a popular musician, always had a crush on her, and he attempts to share his feelings with her at the reunion. He is asked to sing one of his songs, and Elise learns it is about her. The two of them are adorable together, andMara plays her role well, channeling that lonely energy of a person feeling out of place but hoping to find love.
127 Hours
Cast
Based on the real-life experiences of mountaineer Aron Ralston, 127 Hours follows Ralston’s harrowing escape from Canyonlands National Park after getting his arm trapped by a boulder while scaling Bluejohn Canyon. Trapped with little food and water, and no way to call for help, Ralston must fight for his survival against all odds. Danny Boyle directed the film, with James Franco starring as Ralston.
Based on Aron Ralston’s memoir,Between a Rock and a Hard Place,127 Hoursis a thrilling, terrifying story of a canyoneer who gets trapped by a boulder and must figure out a way to escape his situation, coming to the realization that he will need to cut off his own arm. Led by James Franco, who does a lot of his performance alone,127 Hoursis a remarkable tale of survival and determination to live that can be utterly gut-wrenching to watch as the story progresses.
“Not To Be Underestimated”: 13-Year-Old True-Story Drama Gets Rave Review From Survival Expert
Danny Boyle’s survival drama 127 Hours gets rave reviews from an expert, praising the biographical movie’s depiction of the harsh desert conditions.
Though most of127 Hoursfocuses primarily on Franco’s Aron Ralston, Kate Mara does an admirable job as Kristi Moore, a lost hiker with her friend Megan, to whom Aron gives directions. They strike up a quick friendship as Aron shows them an underground pool, and they invite him to a party that night. Aron declines, and both parties go their own ways. Despite her limited screen time,Mara is great alongside Franco, showing her ability to make an impression even in smaller roles.
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a film set in 1960s Wyoming where two men, portrayed by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, navigate a complex emotional and sexual relationship. As they marry and start families, their enduring bond challenges societal norms and profoundly impacts their lives.
A sensation when it was released,Brokeback Mountainis a landmark film, telling the story of two cowboys and their complex, and hidden romantic relationship across two decades, from 1963 through 1983. Directed by Ang Lee,Brokeback Mountainis a heartbreaking, moving love story that is as beautiful as it is urgent, marred by controversy for its Academy Awards loss and multiple attempts to censor the film entirely. It’s an important moment in LGBTQ+ cinema as a whole, opening it up to a wider audience than ever before.
Brokeback Mountainlost toCrashfor Best Picture at the 78th Academy Awards, leading to controversy discussing the latent homophobia among the Academy and critics.
Brokeback Mountainis squarely Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s story as they play Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, respectively, but its supporting characters are also fantastic. Kate Mara plays Alma Del Mar Jr., one of the daughters of Ennis and Michelle Williams' Alma Beers Del Mar. It’s not the most significant role overall, butit was definitely Mara’s biggest project at that point in her career, showing early on that she would be able to get roles in quality movies and shows.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.
In 2011,American Horror Storyhad not yet become a long-running series, but the retroactively titled first season calledAmerican Horror: Murder Housewould kick it all off.Murder Houserevolves around a family dealing with both a miscarriage and infidelity that moves into a Los Angeles mansion, unaware that it is haunted by the ghosts of its former residents and victims. The season was consistently scary while being absurd and often grotesque at every turn. It set the tone for the whole series going forward.
The Real Villain Of American Horror Story Season 1 Wasn’t Who You Thought
The real villain of American Horror Story season 1 wasn’t Tate Langdon, it was an entirely different character whose evil wasn’t quite as overt.
While she isn’t part of the main family, Kate Mara plays the important role of Hayden McClaine, a 22-year-old former student and mistress of Dylan McDermott’s Ben Harmon, the father of the Harmon family who moves into the house. The character is often emotionally unstable and violent, both alive and even as a ghost, andMara explores the emotions her character feels to great effect. It’s a fantastic performance alongside some of the biggest characters in the show.
A Teacher
A Teacher (2020) explores the complexities of an illicit affair between high school English teacher Claire Wilson, played by Kate Mara, and her student Eric Walker, portrayed by Nick Robinson. The show delves into the far-reaching consequences of their relationship on both their lives and those around them, examining themes of power dynamics, manipulation, and the impact of abusive relationships.
A Teacheris a fantastic miniseries adapted from the film of the same name by the director and creator of both, Hannah Fidell. The series follows a troubling, illegal relationship between an English teacher in her 30s and her 17-year-old student, spanning the course of 10 years.A Teacherexplores the disturbing relationship and is bolstered by some incredible central performances, as it explores the abuse happening and the lasting emotional effects that it places on the characters, especially the victim in the situation.
Kate Mara is remarkable as Claire Wilson inA Teacher, portraying the predatory English teacher of Nick Robinson’s Eric Walker. As the series understands the disturbing nature of their relationship, Claire is often painted in a bad light, and Mara dives into her character’s psyche with unsettling results.It’s not always an easy watch, but it’s a masterclass from Kate Mara throughout.
Chappaquiddick
Chappaquiddick, directed by John Curran, depicts the events surrounding Senator Ted Kennedy following a 1969 car accident that resulted in the death of campaign strategist Mary Jo Kopechne. The film explores the political and personal repercussions Kennedy faced as he navigated this pivotal moment.
A strong political thriller,Chappaquiddickexplores the Chappaquiddick incident of 1969 involving Senator Ted Kennedy and his negligence after causing a car accident that resulted in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. It explores the Kennedy family’s response and the fallout from the entire situation. Leaving some questions unanswered, even by the end,Chappaquiddickis a fascinating look at a singular moment in history that isn’t often discussed or that well known.
Chappaquiddickis a fascinating look at a singular moment in history that isn’t often discussed or that well known.
Kate Mara is fantastic inChappaquiddickas Mary Jo Kopechne, the unfortunate victim of the terrible circumstances. Her death is the catalyst for the rest of the film, andMara does justice to the person Mary Jo Kopechne was and her final hours alive. It’s a sad story, and she does an incredible job trying to explore who the character is in the little bit of time she has in the story.
One of the best science fiction survival movies of the past decade,The Martianrevolves around an astronaut trying to survive on Mars after getting left behind following a mission, as well as NASA’s efforts to try to bring him back home. Surprisingly funny despite the harrowing circumstances,The Martianincludes a masterful performance from Matt Damon while getting into the finer details of the science behind his survival. It’s a testament to the resilience of humanity.
Whether The Martian Is A Comedy Debate Settled By Director Ridley Scott 10 Years Later
Ridley Scott clarifies the debate on whether his 2015 sci-fi movie with Matt Damon is a comedy after The Martian’s controversial Golden Globes win.
Kate Mara plays Beth Johanssen inThe Martian, the system operator of Ares III, the ship led by Damon’s Dr. Mark Watney. It’s a relatively small role in the film overall, but Mara’s character is an integral part of the Ares III crew, andshe is able to convey the sense of urgency and how terrifying the whole situation actually is. Mara remains impressive in her role, something she consistently does in the bigger projects of her career.
My Days of Mercy
My Days of Mercy is a drama following the daughter of a death row inmate, who becomes romantically involved with a woman supporting the opposite side of her family’s political beliefs. The film explores the complex interplay of personal relationships, activism, and moral dilemmas.
Exploring the blossoming relationship between the daughter of a man on death row and a woman on the opposing side of her family’s political cause,My Days of Mercyis a touching, complex romantic drama featuring fantastic performances from Kate Mara and Elliot Page. The film is earnest in its exploration of love and the ramifications for the characters as it progresses. It’s tender in its approach, though, and empathetic of the situation they find themselves in.
Kate Mara is incredibly strong inMy Days of Mercyas Mercy Bromage, the daughter of a police officer who has ties to the death penalty case that Elliot Page’s Lucy Moro is protesting to acquit their father, who is on death row. The two characters begin to fall in love, andMara does a fantastic job at being vulnerable and understanding to Page’s character throughout the film.
Based on true events,Megan Leaveyfollows a young marine and her unique bond with a military combat dog as they operate together while being deployed in Iraq. What really shines aboutMegan Leaveyis how it honors and explores its real-life subjects with understanding and sensitivity. It’s always great to see fantastic bonds between animals and humans onscreen, andMegan Leaveydoes a great job at showing that bond.
What Happened To Megan Leavey & Rex In Real Life After The 2017 Movie
A biographical drama, 2017’s Megan Leavey stars Kate Mara as a real-life Marine who served two deployments in Iraq alongside military working dog Rex.
Kate Mara delivers one of her best performances as the titular character, really trying to get to the core of who Megan Leavey is as both a person and a soldier. Through her performance, it’s easy to see how she would be able to bond with a dog that was considered too aggressive at the beginning of the film and her ability to train the dog to perform its job under the pressure of war.Megan Leavey is a complex person that experienced a unique bond against the backdrop of a war, and Mara relays that experience to the screen perfectly.
House of Cards
Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, House of Cards follows unscrupulous politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he makes ruthless attempts to further his career. When he’s passed over for an appointment as Secretary of State, Underwood decides to get ahead by any means necessary. His talent for manipulation and pragmatism sees him climb the political ladder despite his total lack of moral fiber.
Netflix’s first original series,House of Cardshelped signal a new era for the streamer that would go on to shape streaming forever. The political thriller follows an amoral politician who is passed over for Secretary of State, and he begins schemes to grab more power. The series was slick, well directed, and well written when it initially premiered, marking a massive shift in the landscape of streaming originals, led by some incredible performances.
Why House Of Cards Spinoff About Doug Was Scrapped Explained By Star
House of Cards star Michael Kelly explains why a Doug spinoff was scrapped, despite the Netflix show being a massive hit on the streamer.
Likely her most well-known role, Kate Mara plays Zoe Barnes inHouse of Cards, a reporter forThe Washington Heraldwho forms a correspondence with Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood. They strike up a beneficial work relationship to further both of their careers, which eventually turns sexual as the two of them engage in a power struggle over the other.KateMaraproves just how great of a performer she is inHouse of Cards, and Zoe Barnes is ruthless and ambitious, with Mara able to tap into that ambition perfectly.
