Background
McNamara was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the only child of Ursula and Evan McNamara.
McNamara was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the only child of Ursula and Evan McNamara.
At age 17, McNamara graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drexel University. As of November 2015, she is studying for a Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.
She is known for her role as Harper Munroe on the Music Television comedy series Happyland, and for her lead role as Clary Fray on the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters. 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.
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 versus 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 also appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans. McNamara was cast in the Music Television series Happyland as Harper Munroe, a resident of the park who pursues a boy despite the fact that she already has a boyfriend.
lieutenant 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. lieutenant 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.