# Mia Sara

Mia Sarapochiello (born June 19, 1967), known professionally as Mia Sara, is an American actress. Her early roles include the soap opera All My Children (1983) and Ridley Scott's fantasy film Legend (1985). She gained wide recognition for starring in John Hughes' comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). She then led the miniseries Queenie (1987) and won a Saturn Award for starring in Peter Hyams' science fiction film Timecop (1994).
Sara played Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in the DC series Birds of Prey (2002–2003). She took a hiatus in 2013, and returned with a role in Mike Flanagan's drama film The Life of Chuck (2024).

## Early life

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. 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 2024, Sara appeared in her first film 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 named Dashiell Quinn Connery, who is also an actor. The couple divorced in 2002. In 2005, Sara had a daughter with Brian Henson. They 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 film |
| 2024 | The Life of Chuck | Sarah Krantz | |

### 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 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 1995 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Timecop | Won | |