Patricia Rooney Mara, born on April 17, 1985, is an American film and television actress. Mara made her acting debut in 2005 and has gone on to star in films including "A Nightmare on Elm Street", the remake of the 1984 horror film, and "The Social Network". Mara portrayed Lisbeth Salander, the title character in the 2011 version of the film "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", the first of three Sony Pictures films based on Stieg Larsson’s Millennium book series. She received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

Mara is also known for her charity work. She oversees the charity Uweza Foundation, which supports empowerment programs for children and families in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, one of the largest slums in Africa. She is also the younger sister of actress Kate Mara.