Kate Mara and her sister Rooney have carved out remarkably distinct paths in Hollywood, yet their shared history and mutual respect keep pulling them back into each other’s orbit. In a rare joint interview, the two actresses opened up about their creative bond, a project they’ve been circling called Bucking Fastard, and the unlikely cinematic mentor who taught them both to stop worrying about other people’s opinions.
The headline-grabbing title, Bucking Fastard, has been floating around the sisters’ conversations for some time, and while no studio announcement or release plan has been attached, Kate Mara confirmed the film remains a genuine point of collaboration between them. She described the project as something that allows them to lean into their natural synchronization as siblings, a dynamic that producers often try to manufacture but rarely succeeds authentically.
“We don’t have to explain things to each other,” Kate said during the interview, speaking about why working together feels different from collaborating with anyone else. “There’s a shorthand that comes from growing up in the same house, sharing the same memories, and understanding each other’s moods without a word being said.” Rooney echoed that sentiment, noting that their sisterhood operates on an unspoken rhythm that carries directly into their professional lives. She described their creative partnership as less about consciously coordinating and more about trusting that the other person will meet the moment halfway.
The topic of Werner Herzog came up naturally, as both women have crossed paths with the legendary German director at various points in their careers. Kate, who admires Herzog’s uncompromising vision, recalled a piece of advice he offered that has stuck with her ever since. “Werner doesn’t give a s***,” she said with a laugh, paraphrasing his attitude toward industry pressure and conventional storytelling. “He genuinely does not care what anyone thinks about his process or how strange the final product might look. That’s incredibly freeing to witness.”
Rooney agreed, suggesting that Herzog’s approach to filmmaking - one that prioritizes obsession, instinct, and raw emotion over commercial calculation - has become a touchstone for how she chooses her own roles. She noted that the director’s willingness to embrace chaos on set has reshaped her understanding of what a collaborative environment can feel like. “You learn that perfection isn’t the goal,” Rooney explained. “The goal is honesty, even when it’s messy. That lesson applies to every set, not just his.”
The sisters’ conversation touched on how their careers have diverged since their early days. Kate has built a reputation in both television and film, often gravitating toward strong-willed, complicated characters, while Rooney has frequently worked with auteurs and taken on roles that challenge conventional notions of femininity. Despite their different trajectories, they maintain that they never compete for the same parts, largely because their instincts lead them in opposite directions.
“People assume the roles that are right for me must be right for her, but that’s never been true,” Kate said, reflecting on their professional relationship. “We have different energies. I think audiences respond to that distinction.” Rooney added that their sisterhood has never felt like a zero-sum game, noting that each woman’s success expands possibilities for the other rather than limiting them.
When pressed on what Bucking Fastard might reveal about their collaborative dynamic, both remained characteristically coy, offering no cast details, director attachments, or production timeline. Instead, they framed the project as an idea still taking shape, one that they will pursue when the timing feels right. Kate emphasized that the project isn’t about capitalizing on their family connection but rather about finding a story that genuinely requires two voices that understand each other instinctively.
“If we’re going to do this together, it has to be for the right reasons,” Kate said. “We’re not interested in lazy gimmicks or stunt casting.” Rooney confirmed that they have turned down projects in the past that would have paired them superficially, waiting instead for material that felt substantive enough to justify the collaboration.
The conversation inevitably returned to Herzog and the broader lessons both sisters have absorbed from working in an industry that often rewards conformity. Kate described how the director’s fearlessness has encouraged her to take bigger swings, even when those swings risk failure. Rooney likened his influence to a permission slip, granting both of them the license to pursue stories that fascinate them rather than stories that merely satisfy market trends.
For now, audiences will have to wait to see whether Bucking Fastard actually reaches the screen. What emerged from the interview is a portrait of two artists who value their shared history without being defined by it. They remain sisters first, collaborators second, and both seem entirely comfortable holding space for projects that may never materialize, provided they only chase work that feels true to who they are.
As Kate put it, with a nod to Herzog’s indifference to outside judgment, “You have to make things because you can’t imagine not making them. Everything else is noise.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter