→ Has taught acting classes with her husband, Randle Mell, even after being nominated for an Academy Award.
→ Listed as one of twelve “Promising New Actors of 1990” in John Willis’ Screen World, Vol. 42.
→ Attended Fredonia State University.
→ Was a cast member of the medical drama E/R (1984) and also has a recurring role on the 1990s medical drama of nearly the same name, ER (1994).
→ Moved to Los Angeles, California, as an adult with her husband and daughter.
→ Though born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, she was raised in Ithaca, New York.
→ Plays the First Lady during a devastating attack by aliens in Independence Day (1996), and the President after a devastating attack by robots in Battlestar Galactica (2004).
→ Has appeared in four films with Alfre Woodard: Grand Canyon (1991), Passion Fish (1992), Blue Chips (1994) and Mumford (1999).
→ Has been a huge fan of Vanessa Redgrave since the 1970s.
→ Twice played alongside a non-human named Boomer; a dog in Independence Day (1996) and a Cylon in Battlestar Galactica (2004).
→ Was offered the part of May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish (1992) before it was even written.
→ The role of Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica (2004) was written with her in mind. She was the first actor offered the role by creator Ronald D. Moore.
→ Was a competitive and synchronized swimmer as a child and still swims to keep in shape.
→ After graduation, she moved to New York City. While looking for acting work, she supported herself by selling Fuller brushes door to door in Rockefeller Center. In the classic struggling-actress tradition, she also worked as a waitress.
→ Mary and her family lived for a time just outside Philadelphia in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, where she attended Port Kennedy Kindergarten, 1957-58.
→ She is part of the National Advisory Board for the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery of Fredonia State University of New York (more info at www.fredonia.edu. Thanks to ilonarcari for providing us with this info)