Katherine McNamara Biography

Katherine Grace McNamara (born November 22, 1995) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Harper Munroe on the MTV comedy series Happyland, and for her lead role as Clary Fray on the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters.

Early life and education

McNamara was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the only child of Ursula and Evan McNamara. She was raised in Lee's Summit.

While growing up, McNamara was an advanced student in certain subjects, resulting in her being part-homeschooled; she received her high school diploma at age 14. At age 17, McNamara graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drexel University, completing much of her course work online. As of November 2015, she is studying for a Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Career

McNamara began her acting career on Broadway, appearing in A Little Night Music with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury. She began guest starring on television series including Drop Dead Diva and 30 Rock. McNamara has appeared in theatrical movies such as New Year's Eve, and appeared in the Disney Channel original movie Girl vs. Monster playing the role of Myra Santelli. She co-starred in the film remake of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, playing the role of Tom's girlfriend Becky Thatcher. McNamara also appeared in the independent films Contest and A Sort of Homecoming.

She appeared on three episodes of the Disney XD series Kickin' It, in which she had a recurring role as Claire, Kim's rival, and in two episodes of the Disney Channel series Jessie, playing Bryn Brietbart, a rival to Emma Ross. She also appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans. McNamara was cast in the MTV series Happyland as Harper Munroe, a resident of the park who pursues a boy despite the fact that she already has a boyfriend. It was announced that McNamara would playing the recurring role of Kat on the third season of The Fosters in 2015.

McNamara appeared in The Maze Runner film sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, as Sonya, a co-leader of Group B. It was announced on May 6, 2015 that McNamara would be playing the lead character Clary Fray in Shadowhunters, the Freeform television adaptation of Cassandra Clare's best-selling book series The Mortal Instruments.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	The Bride & the Groom	Wedding Guest	Short film
2008	Lone Elm	Lucy	Short film
2008	Matchmaker Mary	Mary Carver
2009	Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency	Emma Marsh
2010	The Nuclear Standard	Penny	Short film
2010	Get Off My Porch	Mary	Short film
2011	Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice	Emma Marsh
2011	New Year's Eve	Lily Bowman	Segment: "Mother & Daughter Story"
2012	Last Ounce of Courage	Caroler
2013	Contest	Sarah O'Malley
2013	Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn	Becky Thatcher
2015	A Sort of Homecoming	Rose
2015	Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials	Sonya
2015	Natural Selection	Paige Thomas
2016	Little Savages	Tiffany
2016	Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?	Sandy Keely

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	The Suite Life of Zack and Cody	Brian McNamara's daughter	Cameo
2010	R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour	Jodanna	Episode: "Worry Dolls"
2011	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Jasmine	Episode: "Flight"
2011	30 Rock	Meagan	Episode: "TGS Hates Women"; uncredited
2011	Drop Dead Diva	Ann Logan	Episode: "Ah, Men"
2012	Glee	Bunhead #1	Episode: "Makeover"
2012	Sketchy	Iris	Episode: "This Is 14"
2012	Madison High	Cherri O'Keefe	Unsold television pilot
2012	Girl vs. Monster	Myra Santelli	Television movie (Disney Channel)
2012-2013	Kickin' It	Claire	3 episodes
2013	Touch	Evie Woods	Episode: "Reunions"
2013	Jessie	Bryn Breitbart	2 episodes
2013	The Thundermans	Tara Campbell	Episode: "Dinner Party"
2013	The Surgeon General	Lily Sherman	Unsold television pilot
2014	Happyland	Harper Munroe	Main role, 8 episodes
2014	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Angela Ward/Tangerine	Episode: "Long Road Home"
2014	Unforgettable	Young Carrie Wells	Episode: "Reunion"
2014	A Wife's Nightmare	Jackie	Television movie (Lifetime)
2014	Workaholics	Haley	Episode: "Beer Heist"
2014-2016	Transformers: Rescue Bots	Priscilla Pynch	Voice role; 6 episodes
2015	R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls	Lilith	Television movie
2015	The Fosters	Ekaterina	3 episodes
2016-present	Shadowhunters	Clary Fray	Lead role
2016	The Grinder	Ginger	Episode: "From the Ashes"; uncredited
2016	Indiscretion	Lizzy	Television movie (Lifetime)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref
2016	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV: Breakout Star	Shadowhunters