Katherine McNamara is a talented actress, dancer, singer-songwriter, and producer who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she began her career on Broadway at the age of 13, playing the lead role of Fredrika Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury.
McNamara's early success on Broadway led to numerous television and film roles, including her breakout performance as Mia Smoak Queen in the CW series "Arrow" and its spin-off "Green Arrow and the Canaries". She also played the lead role of Clary Fray in the Freeform series "Shadowhunters", which premiered to stellar ratings and helped launch the re-brand of the channel.
In addition to her work on television and film, McNamara has a strong background in theater, having performed in numerous productions, including "A Christmas Story, the Musical!", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Crucible", "Inherit the Wind", "Annie", "The Secret Garden", and "Galileo". She has also been involved in various Equity workshops and readings, including "Little Dancer" and "Pan" (aka "Fly").
McNamara's passion for acting extends beyond the stage, with credits in television and film productions. She has appeared in shows such as "30 Rock", "Glee", "Happy Together", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and "Drop Dead Diva", as well as films like "The Stand", "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials", and "R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls".
In addition to her acting career, McNamara is also a talented singer-songwriter and has released several singles. She is also an advocate for education, having graduated from Drexel University's Le Bow School of Business at the age of 17 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Literature at Johns Hopkins University.
McNamara is also an award-winning dancer and has a passion for all forms of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, waltz, and hula. She is a member of the Actors Equity Young Performers Committee and is a reader for the Blank Theater's New Play Development Reading Committee.
In her free time, McNamara is committed to giving back to the community, serving as an ambassador for Girl Up, the United Nation's girl empowerment organization, and a spokesperson for Stomp Out Bullying. She is also a member of the Lollipop Theater Network, a lifetime Girl Scout, and a volunteer for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
