Katherine Grace McNamara: Age, Roles and Bio

Katherine Grace McNamara, known professionally as Katherine McNamara, is an American actress, singer and voice performer born on November 22, 1995, which makes her 30 as of 2026. She is best known for playing Clary Fray in Shadowhunters and Mia Smoak in Arrow.

Quick facts

Early years and training

McNamara grew up with a strong interest in performance and moved into acting while still in school. She trained in dance and music alongside acting, skills that carried into her later work. Her early roles were in small television parts and commercials, followed by a gradual rise.

Shadowhunters

Her breakout came with Shadowhunters (2016 to 2019), a Freeform fantasy series based on Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments books. She played Clary Fray, a young woman who discovers she belongs to a hidden world of demon hunters. The series built a passionate fan base and ran for three seasons, with an active community that rallied behind it when it faced cancellation.

Arrow and the DC universe

In 2017 she joined Arrow in a recurring role as Mia Smoak, the adult version of a future character, and she later became part of the show’s final stretch. The part gave her a visible presence in the superhero television universe and allowed her to show a more action-driven side.

Film work

She appeared in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) as Sonya, a member of the group of survivors. Other credits include movies and series across genres, and she has been involved in indie projects.

Singing and voice acting

McNamara is also a singer, and she has voiced characters in animated series and video games. Her vocal skills have been highlighted in musical events and live performances for fans.

Convention and fan culture

Like many stars of fantasy series, she remains popular on the convention circuit, where Shadowhunters fans still gather. She has used her platform to advocate for causes she cares about.

Age and milestones

Born in late 1995, she turns 31 later this month. She started working professionally as a teenager, so her filmography already spans more than a decade.

Clary Fray and the fandom

Shadowhunters brought McNamara a devoted audience of readers who already loved Cassandra Clare’s books. Playing a character with such a built-in fanbase carries pressure, since fans have strong opinions about every casting choice, and McNamara won many of them over with a mix of vulnerability and determination. When the series was set to end after its third season, fans organized campaigns online, and the cast, including McNamara, engaged with them publicly. That connection has lasted well beyond the finale.

The Maze Runner

McNamara joined the Maze Runner films as Sonya, appearing in The Scorch Trials and later in The Death Cure. Playing a survivor in a dystopian world gave her a first taste of large-scale franchise filmmaking, including stunt work and location shoots. It also introduced her to a wider young-adult audience.

Stunts and training

She has talked about enjoying the physical side of her roles. Action scenes in both Shadowhunters and Arrow required fight choreography, and she has shared behind-the-scenes training content with fans. Her dance background helped, because stunts and dance both demand memory, timing and body control.

Advocacy

McNamara has used her platform to support causes around mental health, education and representation, and she often speaks at fan events and panels. Specifics change from year to year, so check her official channels for the current ones.

Why her age is a common search

She started young, so fans often realize she’s younger than they assumed. Born in 1995, she’d been working professionally for years before her biggest roles, which is why the question comes up so often. If you’re counting, she turns 31 on November 22, 2026.

What fans ask

Beyond age, readers ask whether she’s reprised Clary Fray anywhere else (not on screen as of this writing), whether she’s in a new project, and where to see her sing. Her social channels are the best source for current news.

Frequently asked questions