Mary McDonnell

Biography

Mary McDonnell is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands With A Fist in Dances with Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko. She is known for her character portrayals in both period and present-day screen roles, as well as a long history of stage and film roles.

Mary Eileen McDonnell was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, one of six children born to Eileen (née Mundy) and John “Jack” McDonnell, a computer consultant. She is of Irish descent and was raised Roman Catholic. As a child, McDonnell relocated with her family to Ithaca, New York, where she spent the remainder of her upbringing. After graduating from the State University of New York at Fredonia, she attended drama school and joined the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, where she worked for three months.

McDonnell was married to actor Randle Mell. They have two children, Michael and Olivia. The couple separated in December 2021.