Mia Sarapochiello (born June 19, 1967),[1] known professionally as Mia Sara, is an American actress[2][3][4][5] who 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.

Mia Sara
Born
Mia Sarapochiello

(1967-06-19) June 19, 1967 (age 57)
EducationSaint Ann's School
OccupationActress
Years active1985–2013; 2023–present
Spouses
(m. 1996; div. 2002)
(m. 2010)
Children2

Early life

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Sara was born to a Catholic Italian-American family in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Diana, a stylist and photographer, and Jerome Sarapochiello, a photographer and artist.[6][7][8] She attended St. Ann's School, in Brooklyn.[9]

Career

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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.[9] She also appeared in the 1987 miniseries Queenie, a roman à clef on actress Merle Oberon,[10] 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.[11] 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 2024, Sara appeared in her first film since 2013 in The Life of Chuck.[12]

Personal life

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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.[13]

In 2005, Sara had a daughter with Brian Henson and they married in 2010.[14]

Filmography

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Films

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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

Television

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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

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1995 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress Timecop Won [11]

References

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  1. ^ "Mia Sara Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  2. ^ "Here's What Mia Sara Looks Like Today". January 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "What Really Happened to Mia Sara?". April 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Whatever Happened to Mia Sara?". March 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "Sloane from "Ferris Bueller's" Quit Hollywood a Decade Ago. See Her Now".
  6. ^ Borama, Jennifer (March 21, 2020). "Whatever Happened To Mia Sara?". tvovermind.cop. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Rose Fantozzi". Nazafuneralhome.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  8. ^ "Mia Sara Biography (1967–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Scott, Vernon (July 25, 1986). "Mia Sara Lands Plum Roles Despite Lack of Training". Schenectady Gazette. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  10. ^ Hill, Michael E. (May 10, 1987). "Mia Sara drops teen act for 'Queenie'". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Past Saturn Awards : Film Awards : Best Supporting Actress". Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  12. ^ Wampler, Scott (October 25, 2023). "Matthew Lillard (And A Million Other People) Just Joined The Cast Of The Life of Chuck". Fangoria. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Life in his shadow". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  14. ^ Henson.com Archived 2012-08-21 at the Wayback Machine April 11, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
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