Katherine McNamara
Age: 28
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Katherine "Kat" Grace McNamara (born November 22, 1995) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Harper Munroe on the MTV comedy series Happyland, and for her lead role as Clary Fray on the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters.
Early life and education
McNamara was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the only child of Ursula and Evan McNamara. She was raised in Lee's Summit.
While growing up, McNamara was an advanced student in certain subjects, resulting in her being part-homeschooled; she received her high school diploma at age 14. At age 17, McNamara graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drexel University. As of November 2015, she is studying for a Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Career
McNamara began her acting career on Broadway, appearing in A Little Night Music with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury. She began guest starring on television series including Drop Dead Diva and 30 Rock. McNamara has appeared in theatrical movies such as New Year's Eve, and appeared in the Disney Channel original movie Girl vs. Monster playing the role of Myra Santelli. She co-starred in the film remake of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, playing the role of Tom's girlfriend Becky Thatcher. McNamara also appeared in the independent films Contest and A Sort of Homecoming.
She appeared on three episodes of the Disney XD series Kickin' It, in which she had a recurring role as Claire, Kim's rival, and in two episodes of the Disney Channel series Jessie, playing Bryn Brietbart, a rival to Emma Ross. She also appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans. McNamara was cast in the MTV series Happyland as Harper Munroe, a resident of the park who pursues a boy despite the fact that she already has a boyfriend. It was announced that McNamara would playing the recurring role of Kat on the third season of The Fosters in 2015.
McNamara appeared in The Maze Runner film sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, as Sonya, a co-leader of Group B. It was announced on May 6, 2015 that McNamara would be playing the lead character Clary Fray in Shadowhunters, the Freeform television adaptation of Cassandra Clare's best-selling book series The Mortal Instruments.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | The Bride & the Groom | Wedding Guest | Short film |
2008 | All Roads Lead Home | Fair Goer | Uncredited |
2008 | Matchmaker Mary | Mary Carver | |
2009 | Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency | Emma Marsh | |
2010 | The Nuclear Standard | Penny | Short film |
2010 | Get Off My Porch | Mary | Short film |
2011 | Last Will | Wedding Guest | Uncredited |
2011 | Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice | Emma Marsh | |
2011 | New Year's Eve | Lily Bowman | Segment: "Mother & Daughter Story" |
2012 | Last Ounce of Courage | Caroler | |
2013 | Contest | Sarah O'Malley | |
2013 | Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn | Becky Thatcher | |
2014 | Natural Selection | Paige Thomas | |
2015 | A Sort of Homecoming | Rose | |
2015 | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials | Sonya | |
2016 | Little Savages | Tiffany | |
2016 | Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? | Sandy Keely | |
2016 | Indiscretion | Lizzy |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | The Suite Life of Zack and Cody | Brian McNamara's daughter | Cameo |
2010 | R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Jodanna | Episode: "Worry Dolls" |
2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jasmine | Episode: "Flight" |
2011 | 30 Rock | Meagan | Episode: "TGS Hates Women"; uncredited |
2011 | Drop Dead Diva | Ann Logan | Episode: "Ah, Men" |
2012 | Glee | Bunhead #1 | Episode: "Makeover" |
2012 | Sketchy | Iris | Episode: "This Is 14" |
2012 | Madison High | Cherri O'Keefe | Unsold television pilot |
2012 | Girl vs. Monster | Myra Santelli | Television movie (Disney Channel) |
2012-13 | Kickin' It | Claire | 3 episodes |
2013 | Touch | Evie Woods | Episode: "Reunions" |
2013 | Jessie | Bryn Breitbart | 2 episodes |
2013 | The Thundermans | Tara Campbell | Episode: "Dinner Party" |
2013 | The Surgeon General | Lily Sherman | Television movie |
2014 | Happyland | Harper Munroe | Main role, 8 episodes |
2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Angela Ward/Tangerine | Episode: "Long Road Home" |
2014 | Workaholics | Haley | Episode: "Beer Heist" |
2014 | Transformers: Rescue Bots | Priscilla Pynch (voice) | 3 episodes |
2014 | Unforgettable | Young Carrie Wells | Episode: "Reunion" |
2014 | A Wife's Nightmare | Jackie | Television movie (Lifetime) |
2015 | R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls | Lilith | Television movie |
2015 | The Fosters | Ekaterina | 3 episodes |
2016 | Shadowhunters | Clary Fray | Lead role |
2016 | The Grinder | Ginger | Episode: "From the Ashes"; uncredited |