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In 2002, Mary received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role on
ER.
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While attending college, Mary studied acting in Manchester, England as part of an exchange program.
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Mary appeared on Broadway in the following:
Playing Alma Winemiller in Summer and Smoke
Playing Heidi Holland in The Heidi Chronicles
Playing Mary Ann White in Execution of Justice
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Mary wrote the forward for the book Coping with Lyme Disease: A Practical Guide to Dealing with Diagnosis and Treatment.
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The glasses Laura Roslin wear are Mary McDonnell's actual glasses. She had them on when she got the role, and they decided they liked them for Laura Roslin.
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She played Rose Darko (Donnie's mother) in the cult classic film Donnie Darko.
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She was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1990" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 42.
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In 1981, Mary received an Obie award for her performance in Emily Mann's Still Life.
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In 1997, she starred in Two Small Voices with Gail O'Grady for Lifetime Television.
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Her height is 5'6".
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She once was a cheerleader and synchronized swimmer.
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She began acting as a college student at the State University of New York at Fredonia.
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In 1982 she made her TV-movie debut with a small role in Money on the Side.
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She began teaching drama at Vassar College summer theater. After this she continued teaching at New York Stage and Film Company.
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She made her New York theater debut in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning Buried Child (1978-79).
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She made her big screen debut in the movie Garbo Talks (1984).
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She was raised in Ithaca, New York.
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She met her husband, fellow actor
Randle Mell, in 1986. The two appeared together in the film
Grand Canyon.
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Mary and her husband,
Randle Mell, have two children, Olivia and Michael.
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Mary has three sisters and one brother.
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She had her screen debut in the 1980's soap
As the World Turns. She played Claudia Colfax in this series.