Kate Mara's First Heartbreak Was a Role in Broadway's The Sound of Music | The Tonight Show

0:00 -Welcome back to the show!

0:02 Thanks for being here.

0:03 You know, every time you come on "The Tonight Show," it feels like

0:07 there's another milestone in your life because

0:09 you were getting engaged at one point,

0:11 then you got married at one point, then you're having a baby.

0:15 -Mm-hmm.

0:15 -Since I last saw you, you had another baby.

0:18 And then most recently, you and your family moved back to New York.

0:21 -Yeah.

0:22 Yes.

0:23 I like to celebrate everything here with you.

0:25 Cheers and applause] -You have to celebrate everything!

0:27 Are you happy to be back in New York?

0:29 -I'm so happy.

0:30 I mean, I'm from New York, so coming back,

0:32 you know, I feel like I've come back home.

0:34 I was in L.A.

0:35 for 20-something years, so.

0:36 -Wow.

0:37 -It's wild to be back.

0:39 -You did your time out there.

0:40 -Yeah.

0:40 -But now you're back with the family, and...

0:42 -I'm back with the family.

0:43 We moved to be closer to my parents and my siblings, and so...

0:48 And to be closer to the New York Giants.

0:50 -Yeah.

0:50 I mean, your great grandfather founded the New York Giants.

0:53 I don't know if anyone knows this.

0:55 This is true.

0:55 And your dad still works with the Giants.

0:58 Cheers and applause] -Yeah.

0:59 -Your kids are very young,

1:00 but do they have any understanding about the family's...fandom?

1:04 -Yes, they do.

1:06 I mean, I've got a— we have a 3-year-old,

1:08 a...almost 7-year-old, and I have a 12-year-old stepson, as well.

1:13 And the little ones, they know that on Sunday when the Giants are playing,

1:20 that if they win, that Pops, their grandpa,

1:23 will either be, you know, happy, sad, or pissed.

1:27 -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:29 -It's like one of those three emotions.

1:30 -One of those emotions.

1:31 Yeah.

1:31 If they win, he'll be happy Grandpa.

1:33 If they lose, let's just go home.

1:34 We'll see you tomorrow.

1:35 Chuckles] Yeah.

1:36 Or he'll need, like, extra hugs on certain days, you know?

1:39 -That's so funny.

1:40 -I know you wonder, like, how it's going to affect them when they get older.

1:42 -No.

1:43 Yeah.

1:43 But are they understanding how...

1:45 like, how much it is in the blood of the family?

1:47 I mean, you guys are always, I mean...

1:48 -Yes, when I say the Giants are on, we're gonna watch the Giants game,

1:52 my little 3-year-old will go "Oh, no." -Yeah.

1:55 Laughter] -He'll literally— it scares him because last season was rough.

2:00 But next season...

2:01 Laughter] -That's so funny.

2:03 -Next season is gonna be— He's gonna be so happy.

2:06 -Okay, good.

2:06 Alright!

2:07 Good.

2:07 It's gonna be good.

2:07 Cheers and applause] Good.

2:08 Go, Giants.

2:09 -Yes.

2:11 -I was talking to you backstage.

2:12 We were talking about the Tony Awards.

2:14 The nomination just came out, and you were saying that you've always wanted

2:17 to be on Broadway or do something on Broadway.

2:19 -Yes.

2:19 That was, I mean, moving back to New York really reignited my childhood,

2:24 you know, my passion as a little kid, what made me want to be an actor,

2:27 was Broadway, going to Broadway shows and everything.

2:29 So, being back home, I'm able to go to all the shows now and it just,

2:33 like, has reignited that sort of love.

2:35 -It's amazing.

2:36 -Yeah.

2:36 -Have you ever auditioned or thought about...

2:38 -Yes, my first...

2:40 When I was 14, my first heartbreak, I would say,

2:45 was auditioning for "The Sound of Music" on Broadway.

2:49 -Ooh.

2:51 -I was auditioning, you know, all the Von Trapp children?

2:52 -Of course.

2:53 -There's like seven of them.

2:54 -Yes.

2:54 -Do you actually know them?

2:56 So long, farewell...

2:57 -Yeah!

2:57 There you go.

2:58 So, I was auditioning to play the second-oldest girl, Louisa.

3:02 And you know, they all have— they have to line up like this.

3:05 It has to be, like, tallest to smallest.

3:08 -Yeah, the little one comes out and says...

3:10 -So, very specific height...

3:12 you need to be a specific height to be in the show.

3:15 And I am not a tall lady.

3:18 Shocker.

3:18 I'm like 5'2" now.

3:20 -Okay.

3:21 -But when I was 14, I was also 5'2".

3:24 Laughter] Why is that funny?

3:26 But I, um, I auditioned and I was there 'til the...

3:29 I had like, I don't know, six callbacks.

3:31 They kept getting rid of kids, and then all of a sudden,

3:33 it was just like seven of us standing there all in the line.

3:36 And I looked to my right, and the girl who was,

3:39 you know, playing my older sister was the same height as me.

3:41 And I just thought, like, "Oh, [bleep]." -Did you kind of shrink a little bit?

3:47 -Well, that was it.

3:48 They cut me out.

3:49 I was too tall.

3:49 They were scared I was going to grow more.

3:51 So, that was it.

3:52 That was my dream.

3:53 My Broadway dreams died because I was too tall at 5'2"!

3:58 -At 5'2".

3:59 You'd think you could've slumped a little bit!

4:01 -I prayed everyday, "Don't grow, I want to be on Broadway." And it worked.

4:04 -I did work.

4:05 Laughter] -It didn't work because I'm not on Broadway.

4:07 -You didn't grow.

4:07 -But I am 5'2".

4:08 -Yeah, you're 5'2".

4:09 You're perfect.

4:10 You're the perfect height.

4:11 I don't want you to be any taller.

4:12 But come back and do Broadway, please.

4:14 -I hope so.

4:15 -Yeah, we want to see it.

4:16 -Give me a job.

4:17 -Let's manifest this!

4:18 Cheers and applause] We'd love to see you.

4:21 How's your sister, Rooney, doing as well?

4:23 -She's great.

4:24 She's great.

4:24 -Please tell her I said hello.

4:25 -I will.

4:26 -You just shot something with her, right?

4:27 You did a movie?

4:28 -Yeah.

4:28 Yeah, we did a movie together.

4:31 -Was that fun, doing it with your sister?

4:32 -It was amazing.

4:33 -Yeah, of course.

4:34 -We did a movie called "Bucking Fastard," which is a...

4:38 Laughter] -Thank you for saying that slow.

4:41 -Yeah.

4:41 -Yeah, I appreciate it.

4:42 -People think I mess it up every time.

4:43 -"Bucking Fastard." -But they sent us the script and I read the title and went,

4:48 "Yup." -There you go.

4:49 Yeah, I like this.

4:50 Yeah, it's gonna be fun.

4:51 -That's the one, yeah.

4:52 -Come back when that's coming out.

4:53 -Yeah, we will.

4:54 -Please.

4:54 -We'll come together.

4:55 -Come together, yeah!

4:56 It'll be perfect.

4:56 Let's talk about "Imperfect Women." Oh, my gosh, what a cast!

4:59 Cheers and applause] This is...

5:01 Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss...

5:05 Did you guys know each other before this?

5:06 -Yeah.

5:07 Kerry and I have known each other since...

5:09 I think since I was about 14.

5:10 We had the same manager when we were kids.

5:13 -Oh, my gosh.

5:13 -Yeah, in New York.

5:14 -She got the part in "Sound of Music."-[ Laughs] -Yeah.

5:17 -Damn her.

5:18 -Yeah!

5:18 -Yeah, I've known her for a while.

5:20 -It is a gripping psychological thriller.

5:24 How do you set up the series and who you play?

5:26 -Well, my character is dead on arrival.

5:29 -Spoiler!

5:30 -Yeah, it's not a spoiler, but before the show even starts, she's already dead.

5:35 -Yes.

5:35 -But then, the show follows these three best friends,

5:39 the other two living friends are trying

5:41 to figure out what happened to my character, Nancy.

5:44 -Yes.

5:44 -Lots of twists and turns.

5:46 -It's great.

5:46 I want to show a clip.

5:47 Here's Kate Mara and Kerry Washington in "Imperfect Women." Take a look at this.

5:51 -Nancy, can I give you some real advice?

5:56 -Yeah.

5:58 -You have to listen to that quieter voice.

6:03 I know that Robert's drinking is ripping open old wounds, but in reality,

6:10 this man thinks that your armpits smell like honeysuckle and rainbows.

6:15 He worships you.

6:17 He is not leaving you.

6:22 -You're right.

6:24 I'm just...I'm spinning.

6:28 It's ironic that we're talking about this right now.

6:30 I just commissioned this piece of art for our anniversary.

6:35 If we make it that far.

6:36 -Come on.

6:37 Kate Mara, everybody!

6:38 Cheers and applause] All episodes of "Imperfect

6:40 Women" are streaming now on Apple TV.

6:43 More "Tonight Show" after the break.

6:45 Stick around!