As a child, actress Kate Mara knew American football like the back of her hand, but after developing an infatuation with acting, opted to pursue a career away from her distinguished sports pedigree. A petite redheaded beauty – equal parts football and theater maven – she began her career in minor TV and film roles, but came to prominent recognition with a mix of intense action-heavy work, most notably on Fox’s “24” (2001- ), and in sensitive film dramas such as “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) and “We Are Marshall” (2006).

Mara was born on Feb. 27, 1983 in the Westchester County, New York town of