1. Overview
Mia Sara (born Mia Sarapochiello on June 19, 1967) is an American actress recognized for her versatile performances across film and television. She rose to prominence with significant roles in the fantasy film Legend and the iconic teen comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off in the mid-1980s. Her career further solidified with action and science fiction films, notably earning a Saturn Award for her role in Timecop. Sara has also appeared in various television series and miniseries, including her portrayal of Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey. After a period of hiatus, she has recently returned to acting with new projects.
2. Early Life and Background
Mia Sara's foundational years were spent in a family deeply rooted in the arts, shaping her path towards an acting career.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Mia Sara was born Mia Sarapochiello on June 19, 1967, in Brooklyn Heights, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She hails from a Catholic Italian American family with a strong artistic background. Her mother, Diana, worked as a stylist and photographer, while her father, Jerome Sarapochiello, was a photographer and artist. She also has a younger sister named Cassie Sarapochiello.
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2.2. Education
Sara attended St. Ann's School in Brooklyn. This institution is a private, art-oriented school named after Saint Anne, who is traditionally known as the grandmother of Jesus. She completed her high school education there, graduating in 1985.
3. Career
Mia Sara's acting career spans several decades, marked by diverse roles in both feature films and television productions.
3.1. Debut and Early Career
Sara made her acting debut in 1985, securing a leading role as Princess Lili in Ridley Scott's fairy-tale film Legend, where she starred opposite Tom Cruise. The following year, she gained widespread recognition and popularity for her performance as Sloane Peterson, the girlfriend of the titular character, in John Hughes' acclaimed comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1987, she took on a lead role in the miniseries Queenie, which was a roman à clef based on the life of actress Merle Oberon.
3.2. Film Career
Mia Sara continued to build her filmography with a variety of roles. In 1992, she appeared in A Stranger Among Us, a film directed by Sidney Lumet. A pivotal point in her career came in 1994 when she starred as Melissa Walker opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in the blockbuster science fiction film Timecop. In this role, Melissa was the wife of Max Walker, played by Van Damme. After witnessing her assassination, Max uses a newly researched time machine to travel back in time, ultimately saving Melissa and their unborn child. For her performance in Timecop, Sara received the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Other notable film appearances include Molly Connor in The Impossible Elephant (2001) and a role in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001), which was directed by Brian Henson, who later became her husband.
3.3. Television Career
Sara's television work includes various series, miniseries, and television films. She played Annie Knox in the science fiction series Time Trax from 1993 to 1994, appearing in episodes such as "A Stranger in Time" and "To Kill a Billionaire." From 2002 to 2003, she held a main role as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in The WB Network series Birds of Prey. Her other television credits include an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1988), the miniseries Till We Meet Again (1989) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997), and guest appearances in series like Chicago Hope (1995-1996) and CSI: NY (2005).
3.4. Recent Activities
After a hiatus from acting in 2013, Mia Sara returned to the screen in 2024. She appeared in The Life of Chuck, a drama film directed by Mike Flanagan, playing the character Sarah Krantz.
4. Awards and Nominations
Mia Sara has been recognized for her acting contributions, most notably with a Saturn Award.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Timecop | Won |
5. Personal Life
Beyond her professional endeavors, Mia Sara's personal life includes two marriages and a known personal interest.
5.1. Marriages and Children
In March 1996, Mia Sara married actor Jason Connery, the son of acclaimed actor Sean Connery. They had met while working together on the film Bullet to Beijing. In June 1997, the couple welcomed a son, Dashiell Quinn Connery, who has also pursued a career in acting. Sara and Connery divorced in 2002.
In 2005, Sara had a daughter, Amelia Jane Henson, with Brian Henson, the eldest son of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Sara had previously worked with Brian Henson when he directed her in the film Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story. The couple married on April 6, 2010.
5.2. Personal Interests
Mia Sara has a passion for flying. She obtained a private pilot's license in 1994, demonstrating an interest in activities outside of her acting profession.
6. Filmography
Mia Sara's comprehensive acting credits include numerous films and television appearances across her career.
6.1. Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Legend | Princess Lili | |
| 1986 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Sloane Peterson | |
| 1988 | Apprentice to Murder | Alice Spangler | |
| 1988 | Shadows in the Storm | Melanie | |
| 1990 | Any Man's Death | Gerlind | |
| 1991 | A Climate for Killing | Elise Shipp | |
| 1991 | By the Sword | Erin Clavelli | |
| 1992 | A Stranger Among Us | Leah | |
| 1993 | Call of The Wild | Jessie Gosselin | |
| 1994 | Caroline at Midnight | Victoria Dillon | |
| 1994 | Timecop | Melissa Walker | |
| 1995 | The Set-Up | Gina Sands | |
| 1995 | The Pompatus of Love | Cynthia | |
| 1995 | Black Day Blue Night | Hallie Schrag | |
| 1996 | The Maddening | Cassie Osborne | |
| 1996 | Undertow | Willie Yates | |
| 1999 | Dazzle | Miss Martinet | |
| 2000 | Little Insects | Princess Dayzie (voice) | |
| 2001 | The Impossible Elephant | Molly Connor | |
| 2002 | Turn of Faith | Annmarie De Carlo | |
| 2003 | Hoodlum & Son | Ellen Heaven | |
| 2012 | Dorothy and the Witches of Oz | Princess Langwidere | |
| 2013 | Pretty Pretty | Narciss | Short film |
| 2024 | The Life of Chuck | Sarah Krantz |
6.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | All My Children | Francesca | Soap opera |
| 1987 | Queenie | Queenie Kelly / Dawn Avalon | Miniseries; lead role |
| 1988 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Sara Fletcher | Episode: "Twisted Sisters" |
| 1989 | Big Time | Fran | Television film |
| 1989 | Till We Meet Again | Delphine de Lancel | Miniseries |
| 1990 | Daughter of Darkness | Katherine Thatcher | Television film |
| 1992 | Call of the Wild | Jessie Gosselin | Television film |
| 1993 | Blindsided | Chandler Strange | Television film |
| 1993 | Time Trax | Elyssa Channing-Knox / Annie Knox | Episodes: "A Stranger in Time", "To Kill a Billionaire" |
| 1995 | Bullet to Beijing | Natasha | Television film |
| 1995-1996 | Chicago Hope | Annie Rueman | Episodes: "Informed Consent", "Women on the Verge" |
| 1996 | Strangers | Ginny | Episode: "Stone Heart" |
| 1996 | Midnight in Saint Petersburg | Natasha | Television film |
| 1996 | Undertow | Willie Yates | Television film |
| 1997 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | Mara | Miniseries; main role |
| 1998 | Hard Time | Myler | Television film |
| 2001 | Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story | Ondine | Miniseries; main role |
| 2002 | Lost in Oz | Loriellidere | Unsold pilot |
| 2002-2003 | Birds of Prey | Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn | Main role |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Cala Winger | Episode: "Jamalot" |
| 2006 | Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King | Beautiful Passenger | Cameo; episode: "Battleground" |
| 2007 | Tinseltown | Lena | Television film |
| 2011 | The Witches of Oz | Princess Langwidere | Miniseries |