Rooney Mara
An actress of haunting stillness and fierce commitment, she transforms completely for roles that explore the dark edges of human experience.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American actress·Birthday: April 17·Millennials
Biography
Rooney Mara possesses an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence that she wields with surgical precision. An heir to two NFL football dynasties (the Rooneys and the Maras), she deliberately carved a path far from the spotlight of the family business. Her breakthrough came not with a smile, but with a steely glare as the hacker Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," a performance of raw intensity that earned her an Oscar nomination. She consistently chooses difficult, often unsympathetic characters—a Depression-era farmer's wife, a mute shoplifter, a woman grappling with grief—and imbues them with a profound, quiet humanity. Her work is characterized by a physical and emotional austerity, making her one of the most compelling and unpredictable actors of her generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rooney was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rooney Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Rooney's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her transformative role as Lisbeth Salander in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.
- Received critical acclaim and a Cannes Best Actress award for her role as a grieving mother in the atmospheric fantasy film 'A Ghost Story'.
- Co-starred in Todd Haynes's 'Carol', a performance that garnered her a second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress.
- Founded the charity Faces of Kibera with her sister to support orphans in the Nairobi slum, demonstrating a long-term commitment to philanthropy.
Did You Know?
Her first name, Patricia, is after her paternal grandmother, but she uses her middle name, Rooney, professionally to avoid confusion with actress Kate Mara, her sister.
She is a vegan and an advocate for animal rights, having launched a vegan clothing line with her sister.
To prepare for her role in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', she learned to skateboard, ride a motorcycle, and studied body piercing.
She attended New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, focusing on psychology, international social policy, and nonprofit organizations.
“I like roles that scare me. If I'm not terrified, then I'm probably not interested.”
