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Mary McDonnell

Actor

Mary McDonnell

Born April 28, 1952 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA35 films

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) 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 was featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons 5–7 of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.

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The best way into Mary McDonnell's work
Dances with Wolves posterFirst watchDances with Wolves19907.8as Stands With A FistWounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Donnie Darko poster7.8Donnie Darko2001Independence Day poster6.9Independence Day1996Scream 4 poster6.5Scream 42011Margin Call poster6.9Margin Call2011The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf poster7.4The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf2021Sneakers poster6.9Sneakers199212 Angry Men poster7.712 Angry Men1997Battlestar Galactica: Razor poster7.2Battlestar Galactica: Razor2007

Filmography

35 films as actor
  1. TBAOne Second AfterJen
  2. 2025BrokeKathy Brandywine
  3. 2021The Witcher: Nightmare of the WolfLady Zerbst (voice)
  4. 2011Margin CallMary Rogers
  5. 2011Scream 4Kate Roberts
  6. 2009Hostile MakeoverRose Smithsonian
  7. 2007Battlestar Galactica: RazorPresident Laura Roslin
  8. 2005Mrs. HarrisVivian Schulte
  9. 2004Crazy Like a FoxAmy Banks
  10. 2003NolaMargaret Langworthy
  11. 2002The LocketHelen Staples
  12. 2001Donnie DarkoRose Darko
  13. 2000For All TimeLaura Brown
  14. 2000A Father's ChoiceSusan Shaw
  15. 1999MumfordAlthea Brockett
  16. 1999Replacing DadLinda Marsh
  17. 1999Behind the MaskMary Shushan
  18. 1998You Can Thank Me LaterDiane
  19. 1998Evidence of BloodDora Overton
  20. 199712 Angry MenJudge
  21. 1997Two VoicesSybil Goldrich
  22. 1996Mariette in EcstasyPrioress
  23. 1996Independence DayMarilyn Whitmore
  24. 1996Woman UndoneTeri Hansen
  25. 1994Blue ChipsJenny
  26. 1993The American ClockRose Baumler
  27. 1992Passion FishMay-Alice Culhane
  28. 1992SneakersLiz
  29. 1991Grand CanyonClaire
  30. 1990Dances with WolvesStands With A Fist
  31. 1988Tiger WarsawPaula Warsaw
  32. 1987MatewanElma Radnor
  33. 1986CourageGabriella Estrada
  34. 1984Garbo TalksLady Capulet
  35. 1982Money on the SideTerri