Cara currently stars in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things as Karen Wheeler. The much anticipated season 2 will air in 2017.
She was recently in a heavily recurring role as assassin Martine on CBS’s Person of Interest. Cara was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2011 for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Dr. Faye Miller, the smart, Kim Novak-esque psychologist and love interest of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) on AMC’s Mad Men. She played Michael Imperioli’s wife, Kelli Moltisanti, on the final two seasons of The Sopranos (HBO). She is the only actor to have appeared in both critically acclaimed shows. She was a series regular on Third Watch (NBC) playing paramedic Grace Foster (Helen Mirren portrayed her mother). Her notable television appearances include Brothers & Sisters, two critically acclaimed episodes of Law and Order (as well Criminal Intent & SVU), Deep in My Heart a CBS/Hallmark movie in which she played Young Gerry with Anne Bancroft who played Gerry, and was the final fatality on ER.
Cara was recently seen in All Saints for Sony. She was featured in 20th Century Fox’s feature Paper Towns. Prior feature work includes Let Me In directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield). She also shot a supporting role in Stephen King’s A Good Marriage with Anthony LaPaglia. She was the female lead in Artie Lange’s Beer League, Edith Banner in Ang Lee’s Hulk, and has played in independent features such as Next Stop Wonderland, Happy Accidents, and River Red (all Sundance premieres), Two Ninas with Amanda Peet and Ron Livingston (winner Audience Award GenArt Film Festival), Nisha Ganatra’s Chutney Popcorn (winner Audience Award Berlin Film Festival), and Noah Baumbach’s directorial debut Kicking and Screaming (NY Film Festival premiere).
She has worked extensively in NY theater at companies including The New Group, Primary Stages and Theater for a New Audience. She has appeared on Broadway in The Rose Tattoo opposite Mercedes Ruehl and Anthony LaPaglia directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, Some Americans Abroad directed by Roger Michel (Changing Lanes, Notting Hill) and The Tenth Man directed by Ulu Grosbard both at Lincoln Center.
Born and raised in the Bronx. She graduated from Columbia University in 3 years with a double major in English and Political Science. She ran 3 NYC Marathons.
Little Known Fact: When she was about 12 years old Cara was hanging out in the corner candy store and saw a casting notice for a kid. She looked at the owner and said, "Al, I'm going to be an actress," and got on a bus from The Bronx to Times Square to audition.