For years, the idea of seeing Kate Mara and Rooney Mara—two of Hollywood’s most enigmatic and talented sisters—share the screen felt like a tantalizing what-if. Now, that dream has become a reality. The Mara sisters, each with a string of acclaimed performances to their names, have finally joined forces in the upcoming Werner Herzog film Bucking Fastard, marking a milestone not just in their careers, but potentially for sibling collaborations in the film industry at large.
At the Los Angeles premiere of Apple TV’s Imperfect Women on March 10, 2026, Kate Mara, age 43, spoke candidly about what it meant to work with her younger sister, Rooney, 40, for the very first time. According to PEOPLE Magazine, Kate described the experience as “very special,” adding, “The script is unlike anything we’ve ever read before. We’re basically playing the same person. And it’s a dream director, Werner Herzog, for both of us. So it was an obvious ‘yes’ for us both.”
The film, Bucking Fastard, is a psychological drama inspired by the remarkable true story of Freda and Greta Chaplin, identical twin sisters from England who, in the 1980s, became embroiled in a legal battle over their shared obsession with the same man. The movie’s title itself is a nod to a synchronized verbal slip the real-life twins made during court proceedings—a detail that hints at the film’s blend of uncanny reality and cinematic invention.
Kate and Rooney take on the roles of Jean and Joan Holbrooke, twins whose lives are so entwined they speak in unison, love the same man, and even share the same dreams. The plot follows their search for an imaginary land called the Orkneys, a place they believe true love is possible. Their quest is both literal and metaphorical: they begin digging a tunnel through an entire mountain range, a powerful image of their desperate connection not only to each other, but to the idea of love itself. “We’re basically playing the same person,” Kate told PEOPLE Magazine, highlighting the eerie, almost symbiotic relationship at the heart of the film.
The supporting cast adds even more star power to the project. Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson play pivotal roles in the twins’ emotional journey. Principal photography for Bucking Fastard took place in Dublin’s Pigeon House film studios, the picturesque town of Naas in Ireland, and Slovenia, providing a visually rich backdrop for Herzog’s signature storytelling. According to Deadline, the film’s unique locations and international ensemble reflect the ambitious nature of the project.
For the Mara sisters, this collaboration is the culmination of decades spent pursuing their own distinct paths in Hollywood. Kate first gained widespread recognition as Zoe Barnes in House of Cards, while Rooney’s breakout roles in The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo cemented her reputation as a performer drawn to complex, challenging material. Despite their parallel successes, the two had never acted together—until now. “We didn’t want it to end,” Kate admitted, reflecting on their time on set. “The experience was unlike anything else that I’ve ever, ever had.”
The project also drew them closer as sisters. In earlier interviews, Kate had reminisced about the early days of their careers, when Rooney first entered the acting world and the two lived together in Kate’s apartment. “We would both go on auditions and come home and talk about the terror of certain auditions and funny stories, and so it just became something super special that you can actually bond with a sibling [over], which is very rare,” Kate recalled in a 2017 interview on ABC News’ Popcorn with Peter Travers. Even as their careers diverged, the bond remained strong. “I just feel so grateful that we’re both living our dreams successfully and to be able to share that with someone you grew up with—it’s really special,” Kate told The Guardian in 2016.
This sense of gratitude and mutual support is palpable in their new film. By casting real-life siblings as fictional twins who are nearly inseparable, Herzog taps into an authenticity that’s hard to fake. The result, as early glimpses suggest, is a performance full of psychological depth and emotional resonance. The film’s premise—two women so close they seem to merge into one—offers a striking meditation on identity, codependency, and the search for connection.
But Bucking Fastard isn’t the only project generating buzz for Kate Mara this spring. She also stars in Apple TV’s new psychological thriller series Imperfect Women, which debuted its first two episodes, “Eleanor” and “Crush,” on March 18, 2026. The series, based on Araminta Hall’s novel, explores the tangled lives of three best friends whose bond is tested by a murder investigation. With themes of female friendship, motherhood, sexual desire, guilt, and the societal pressure on women to maintain perfect facades, Imperfect Women is already being hailed as a must-watch drama.
The show boasts a star-studded cast: Kerry Washington as Eleanor, Elisabeth Moss as Mary, Kate Mara as Nancy, Joel Kinnaman as Robert, Corey Stoll as Howard, and Leslie Odom Jr. as Donovan. According to Decider, the series consists of eight episodes, with new installments dropping every Wednesday through April 29. For those eager to catch up, Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers and a $13.99/month ad-free streaming plan.
With both Bucking Fastard and Imperfect Women arriving in March 2026, Kate Mara is enjoying a career high, while her collaboration with Rooney marks a turning point for family dynamics in Hollywood storytelling. The sisters’ willingness to embrace vulnerability, both on and off screen, has resonated with audiences and critics alike. Their real-life bond infuses their performances with a rare authenticity—one that may inspire other famous siblings to take creative risks together.
As Herzog’s film prepares for its much-anticipated release, the question lingers: will this historic pairing of the Mara sisters open the door for more sibling-led projects in the future? If the early reactions are any indication, audiences are more than ready for stories that explore the complexities of family, identity, and connection, told by those who know them best.
For now, fans can look forward to a spring filled with Mara magic—on streaming screens and in theaters alike.