
Mary McDonnell
Acting
61
Acting Credits
Biography
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 sta...
Known For
Filmography

Broke
2025
as Kathy Brandywine

Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas
2025
as Delilah

The Fall of the House of Usher
2023
as Madeline Usher

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
2021
as Lady Zerbst (voice)

Rebel
2021
as Helen Peterson

Rebel
2021
as Helen

Fargo
2014
as Ruby Goldfarb

Major Crimes
2012
as Captain Sharon Raydor

Scream 4
2011
as Kate Roberts

Margin Call
2011
as Mary Rogers

Hostile Makeover
2009
as Rose Smithsonian

Battlestar Galactica: Razor
2007
as President Laura Roslin

Mrs. Harris
2006
as Vivian Schulte

The Closer
2005
as Captain Sharon Raydor

The Closer
2005
as Sharon Raydor

Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Virginia Dixon

The Closer
2005
as Sharon Raydor (archive footage) (uncredited)

Crazy Like a Fox
2004
as Amy Banks

Battlestar Galactica
2004
as Laura Roslin

Veronica Mars
2004
as Jane

The Making of ‘Sneakers’
2003
as Self

Nola
2003
as Margaret Langworthy

Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic
2003
as Self

Battlestar Galactica
2003
as President Laura Roslin

The Locket
2002
as Helen Staples

Donnie Darko
2001
as Rose Darko

For All Time
2000
as Laura Brown

A Father's Choice
2000
as Susan Shaw

Mumford
1999
as Althea Brockett

Replacing Dad
1999
as Linda Marsh

Behind the Mask
1999
as Mary Shushan

Ryan Caulfield: Year One
1999
as Rachel Caulfield

Evidence of Blood
1998
as Dora Overton

You Can Thank Me Later
1998
as Diane

Two Voices
1997
as Sybil Goldrich

12 Angry Men
1997
as Judge

Independence Day
1996
as Marilyn Whitmore

Woman Undone
1996
as Teri Hansen
Mariette in Ecstasy
1996
as Prioress

Independence Day: The ID4 Invasion
1996
as Self

The Making of 'Independence Day'
1996
as Self

High Society
1995
as Dott Emerson

Blue Chips
1994
as Jenny

ER
1994
as Eleanor Carter

Touched by an Angel
1994
as Sister Theodore Claire

The American Clock
1993
as Rose Baumler

Sneakers
1992
as Liz

Passion Fish
1992
as May-Alice Culhane

Grand Canyon
1991
as Claire

Dances with Wolves
1990
as Stands With A Fist

The Making of 'Dances with Wolves'
1990
as Herself

Tiger Warsaw
1988
as Paula Warsaw

American Experience
1988
as Narrator (voice)

Matewan
1987
as Elma Radnor

Courage
1986
as Gabriella Estrada

Garbo Talks
1984
as Lady Capulet

E/R
1984
as Eve Sheridan

Money on the Side
1982
as Terri

The Oscars
1953
as Self

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Helen Staples

Golden Globe Awards
1944
as Self