Kate Mara: 8 Things You Might Not Know

Kate Mara, reporter Zoe Barnes in Netflix’ original series House of Cards, has kept a low-profile since making her acting debut on Law & Order in 1997. Since then she’s had multiple episode arcs on hit sitcoms Nip Tuck, Jack & Bobby, 24, and Entourage. Her film credits include Brokeback Mountain, We Are Marshall and 127 Hours. In 2011 she guest starred on Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s American Horror Story, before landing her leading role on House of Cards.

Read below for more about Kate Mara:

1. Her younger sister is Side Effects and Girl With the Dragon Tattoo actress Rooney Mara.

2. She deferred her acceptance to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts three consecutive years to continue acting and singing before deciding not to go.

3. Mara is the great-granddaughter of the founder of the New York Giants, Timothy Mara. She’s also the great granddaughter of the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney.

4. She often sings the National Anthem at Giants home games.

5. After being forced to miss Super Bowl XL for work, her contracts now reads that if either the Giants or Steelers are in the Super Bowl she must be permitted to attend.

6. She was up for the part of Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, but got beat out by Anne Hathaway.

7. She’s been dating actor Max Minghella since 2010.

8. She tried to make House of Cards costar Kevin Spacey laugh during their nude scenes. "They give you these little pasties to cover your nipples," Mara told Jimmy Kimmel on his show. “So, the first time around I printed out just pictures of his face, stuck them on. His close-up comes, nothing. Just no reaction at all."