Actress Kate Mara on Activism, Family and Vegan Parenting

After two decades of acting in primetime television, blockbuster movies and independent projects, Kate Mara has been honored with eight nominations and two awards for her work on screen. This month, Mara is being recognized for her work off-camera—speaking up for animals. Historically, the actress has shied away from such accolades—she’s been incredibly humble about her philanthropic efforts, presenting a strong front for animals while avoiding the spotlight herself. On January 26, she will finally receive some recognition for her groundbreaking work, as the Animal Legal Defense Fund selected Mara as one of the prestigious honorees at its Justice for Animals fundraiser.

When we like to see him house of cards And he feels compelled to watch any film (The Martian, 127 Hours, The Fantastic Four … just to name a few of her many accomplishments), we are even more moved by her passion to help animals and support organizations doing this necessary and tireless work. We chatted with Zum to learn more about his admirable advocacy and insights into his purpose-driven life.

Family inheritance

Mara carved his own legacy in acting and activism, but he grew up in a family with a long-established legacy of their own in American football. Both of his grandfathers were professional sports executives — his paternal great-grandfather founded the New York Giants and his maternal great-grandfather owned the Pittsburgh Steelers. Involvement in sports comes down to his father, who works as an executive for the Giants. Through their combined family wealth, the Rooney/Mara clan has taken on numerous charitable endeavors, though like Kate, both parents have been extremely quiet about their involvement.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images

“They’re really part of the community,” Pittsburgh resident Richard Smith told Pittsburgh news station WTAE-TV after the death of Mara’s grandfather, Dan Rooney. “They’re not sitting in some high crystal tower, they’re truly one of us.” In addition to working with the Steelers since 1955 (a job that earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Rooney supported his community by working with The United Way, granting wishes to 10 Steelers and serving as founding chairman of the Southwest. The Mentoring Partnership of Pennsylvania, a local nonprofit that pairs youth with mentors to set them up for success and lead by positive example.

going vegan

Mara grew up in Bedford, NY and like many, she developed a deep love for animals but was blindsided by the food industry.

“I didn’t know any vegetarians or vegans. I was not aware of what was on my plate,” recalls Mara.

The reality of animal agriculture hit him in his teens when he witnessed some of the cruelty inherent in raising animals for food. During the drive from Pittsburgh to New York, he saw several trucks down the highway carrying chickens, presumably to be slaughtered.

“I could see how horrible it felt as animals to live that life just because of us [humans] “Feel like feeding ourselves a certain way,” Mara said. “I was upset and saddened by it and thought shame on me for not knowing about it or being aware of it sooner.”

The budding actress adopted a vegetarian diet after that meeting, but it would be several more years before she became a vegetarian for entirely different reasons.

A vegetarian friend of Mara’s suggested reading Beauty Detox by holistic wellness practitioner Kimberly Snyder in 2013, and it was the logic of health that clicked. “Many people decide to become vegetarians when they have a crisis. When I read this book I realized, ‘Why wait for something terrible to happen to change your lifestyle?'” he explained.

He leaned on his younger sister, Rooney. An established actress and advocate in her own right, Rooney adopted a vegan lifestyle about two years ago after a disturbing animal abuse video sent her down the YouTube rabbit hole of how brutal animal agriculture really is.

From vegetarian to advocate

Adopting a vegan lifestyle is one thing but another step to fully lend a voice to countless animals, especially those in the spotlight. For Mara, however, the decision to become a lawyer was easy, even natural.

“Sometimes being a voice for others is easier than being a voice for yourself. Even as a child, when I was shy, I felt more empowered when I stuck up for someone else,” Mara said.

His first point in favor of the beast was borne out by the 2013 documentary, Blackfish, which exposed animal abuse and tragic human accidents that had been hidden by SeaWorld until now. He reached out to the filmmaker and offered his support.

“I wanted to serve in any way I could,” he said, as he helped spread awareness about the film through his network.

Since this early act of advocacy, Mara has been instrumental in standing up for animals, from finishing horse-drawn carriages in New York City to working on her own 2022 documentary, The smell of moneyTo bring awareness to the environmental racism behind factory farming.

Michelle Cho

To stay up to date on issues, he keeps worthy company. “I surround myself with people who do a lot for animals, and I’m constantly learning from them,” Mara explained. When asked how he decides which projects to support, he likens the decision-making process to acting. “It’s like choosing an act or a role. You don’t know about certain films or roles until they’re brought to you,” she says, explaining that she often discovers new issues through her knowledgeable friends and organizations, such as the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

“If you’re not out there, you don’t necessarily know that you need a voice for some things,” she said. “Social media is an amazing tool for things like this.”

Mara and Animal Defense League

Mara’s long history of animal activity is consistent and varied. He wrote letters in support of the policy change as well as traveled to Liberia to meet with a group of rescued chimpanzees. However, she credits the Animal Defense Fund with supporting her and other advocates for doing the work that could have had a greater impact.

“[The Animal Defense Fund] These are top lawyers. They may have had these fun careers but they chose to dedicate their lives to animal rights. Having laws and policies on our side as we advocate for justice for animals [the work] less burden It’s really important to have people like that behind you,” Mara said.

Being a vegetarian parent

Like the rest of us, Mara knows she doesn’t have all the answers when it comes to parenting, especially when it comes to raising vegan kids. She and her husband, actor Jamie Bell, are parents to a nine-year-old son (Bell from a previous marriage), a three-year-old daughter, and an infant son. She admits she’s still navigating how to explain why she doesn’t buy certain shoes (like leather) or how they decide to buy (or not buy) certain foods, especially for her daughter.

“How do you teach a three-year-old to have empathy for an animal they don’t know?” she asks. “I certainly don’t have all the answers and I look up to many friends who raise their kids vegan, but it’s also amazing how empathetic the kids are.”

Despite these uncertainties, becoming a mother has accelerated her work as a protector of animals. “Being a parent gives me more passion and drive for animals, as children need our voices in many ways, and obviously animals really do.” She will let her children make their own food decisions when they are a little older. “I find it empowering to choose the stories we tell them and how to make them aware [of what’s on their plate]. I didn’t know what was put on my plate. It excites me that I am able to raise my children in a more honest way,” he said.

Miyoko’s Creamery

Mara’s go-to staple in fashion, food and beauty

What does a sympathetic Hollywood star like when it comes to food, fashion and beauty brands? We asked the source directly. Like many, she claims that cheese is the hardest food to give up after going vegan. These days, she satisfies her cheese cravings with Miyoko’s Creamery. “Myoko is one of my favorite brands, but there are so many [vegan cheeses] Now that’s kind of unbelievable. Parmeler is [also] Really nice. Try it on a cracker,” he suggests.

For makeup, Mara called on Jillian Demsey’s makeup line. “He takes a lot of care in how he makes his products.” He highly recommended True Botanicals as his trusted brand. “Being the parent of a newborn, I am very conscious of what I put on my skin. you don’t want [harmful] Rubbing makeup into their precious, precious skin,” Mara said.

On fashion, she gave a shout-out to Jonathan Simkhai for going leather- and fur-free. “Her vegan skin is so beautiful,” Mara boasts. “My hope is that in the future, we won’t have to call it vegan [leather]. It happens naturally.”