The actress who is literally royalty in the NFL

Entertainment · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Kate Mara is a household name for her roles in House of Cards and The Martian, but her real-life pedigree is even more cinematic. She isn't just an actress; she is a direct descendant of the founders of two of the biggest empires in American sports.

Kate Mara's lineage connects her to the very foundations of the NFL. She is a great-granddaughter of both Tim Mara, the founder of the New York Giants, and Art Rooney, the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Her family's ownership of these teams dates back to their respective formations in 1925 and 1933. This heritage is so deeply woven into her family tree that her mother's side has held ownership in the Steelers since the team's inception, while her father's side has held the Giants since the beginning.

This dual-legacy status even influences her personal life and professional choices. Mara has joked that her team loyalty depends on her mood, rooting for the Giants when annoyed with her mother and the Steelers when frustrated with her father. Her family ties also provided a unique connection to her role in the 2006 film We Are Marshall, which depicted the aftermath of the 1970 Marshall University plane crash. Furthermore, her contracts for singing the national anthem at both teams' games include a specific stipulation: she may attend the Super Bowl if either team qualifies, as she missed the Steelers' 2006 victory due to work commitments.

Despite this high-profile background, Mara began her journey in the arts as a 'painfully shy' child. She started acting at age nine in a school musical and spent years in youth theater-arts schools and community theater. While she eventually became a versatile film and television actress—appearing in projects ranging from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to indie dramas—she has admitted in interviews that her true childhood dream was to do Broadway, rather than pursuing movies or television.

Today, Mara balances her acting career with a commitment to animal advocacy and a vegan lifestyle. Since 2015, she has championed Meatless Monday while acting as a public representative for the Humane Society of the United States. Her career trajectory shows a transition from a 'young actor with a shot at making it big' in 2006 to a seasoned performer who has navigated both critically acclaimed indie projects and major studio blockbusters.

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