Quick Facts
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Mia Sarapochiello (born June 19, 1967), known professionally as Mia Sara, is an American actress. She made her film debut as Princess Lili in the fantasy film Legend (1985), and had her breakthrough role starring as Sloane Peterson in the comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). She also portrayed Melissa Walker in the science fiction film Timecop (1994), which won her the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Early life
Mia Sara was born to an Italian-American Catholic family in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Diana, a stylist and photographer, and Jerome Sarapochiello, a photographer and artist. She attended St. Ann's School, in Brooklyn.
Career
Sara's debut role was Princess Lili in Ridley Scott's 1985 fairy-tale film Legend, alongside Tom Cruise. Playing the role of Ferris Bueller's girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, in the 1986 blockbuster film Ferris Bueller's Day Off made her even more popular. She also appeared in the 1987 miniseries Queenie, a roman à clef on actress Merle Oberon, as well as 1992's A Stranger Among Us, directed by Sidney Lumet. In 1994, she starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in the blockbuster Timecop, for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also played the part of Molly Connor in The Impossible Elephant (2001). Also in 2001, she acted in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story, directed by Brian Henson (eldest son of Muppets creator Jim Henson).
Her television roles have included Annie Knox in the science fiction series Time Trax (1993–94) and Dr. Harleen Quinzel in the short-lived WB Network series Birds of Prey (2002–03).
In 2023, Sara was cast in her first film role since 2013 in The Life of Chuck.
Personal life
In March 1996, Sara married Jason Connery, son of actor Sean Connery, with whom she performed in Bullet to Beijing. In June 1997, they had a son. The couple divorced in 2002.
In 2005, Sara had a daughter with Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson. Sara and Henson married in 2010.
Filmography
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 |
| 2024 | The Life of Chuck | Sarah Krantz | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | All My Children | Francesca | Soap Opera |
| 1987 | Queenie | Queenie Kelly / Dawn Avalon | TV miniseries |
| 1988 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Sara Fletcher | "Twisted Sisters" |
| 1989 | Big Time | Fran | TV film |
| 1989 | Till We Meet Again | Delphine de Lancel | TV miniseries |
| 1990 | Daughter of Darkness | Katherine Thatcher | TV film |
| 1992 | Call of the Wild | Jessie Gosselin | TV film |
| 1993 | Blindsided | Chandler Strange | TV film |
| 1993 | Time Trax | Elyssa Channing-Knox / Annie Knox | "A Stranger in Time", "To Kill a Billionaire" |
| 1995 | Bullet to Beijing | Natasha | TV film |
| 1995–1996 | Chicago Hope | Annie Rueman | "Informed Consent", "Women on the Verge" |
| 1996 | Strangers | Ginny | "Stone Heart" |
| 1996 | Midnight in Saint Petersburg | Natasha | TV film |
| 1996 | Undertow | Willie Yates | TV film |
| 1997 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | Mara | TV miniseries |
| 1998 | Hard Time | Myler | TV film |
| 2001 | Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story | Ondine | TV miniseries |
| 2002 | Lost in Oz | Loriellidere | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2002–2003 | Birds of Prey | Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn | TV series |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Cala Winger | "Jamalot" |
| 2006 | Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King | Beautiful Passenger | "Battleground" |
| 2007 | Tinseltown | Lena | TV series |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress | Timecop | Won |