Mary McDonnell

Mary McDonnell, a two-time Oscar(r),-nominated actress, is known for her performances on screen in both historical and modern roles. She also has a long history of roles both on stage and screen. Mary Eileen McDonnell is a Pennsylvania-born actress. She was the daughter of Eileen (Mundy) who was an Irish-American computer consultant, and John McDonnell. Growing up in Ithaca, New York, she graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. She later attended the drama program and was admitted to the prestigious Long Wharf Theatre Company on the East Coast. She was just 22 when she was offered her breakthrough film part in Dances with Wolves (1990) in which she played "Stands with a Fist" Sioux Indian woman who is white. Her first Academy Award nomination for the role. McDonnell has been in the Lawrence Kasdan films Grand Canyon (1991), and Mumford (1999) alongside such experienced actors as Robert Redford as well as Sidney Poitier. She also starred in Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day (1996), with Will Smith. Margin Call (2011) that was directed by Kevin Spacey, earned McDonnell the Robert Altman award at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards. McDonnell played a prominent role in the Syfy Network's award winning series Battlestar Galactica (2004), which was highly praised for her performance as President Laura Roslin. McDonnell was nominated for an Emmy for her frequent guest appearance on the tv show ER (1994). The hit TNT drama series Major Crimes (2012) features McDonnell as Captain Sharon Raydor. This is the sequel to The Closer (2005) in which McDonnell played the character. She was nominated to win an Emmy(r) from Primetime. Emmy(r). Her portrayal of a paraplegic soap operas in John Sayles' critically acclaimed film Passion Fish (1992) earned her a Best Actress Academy Award (r) nomination and an Academy Award nomination. Golden Globe nod.