Mary McDonnell (born April 28, 1952 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) is an American actress.

After a twenty year career spent primarily as a stage actress, McDonnell was cast in Dances With Wolves (1990) and received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for this role. Her role in Passion Fish (1992) brought her a Best Actress Academy Award nomination.

Other notable films include Grand Canyon (1991), Sneakers (1992), Independence Day (1996) and Donnie Darko (2001). She is currently starring in the television series Battlestar Galactica (2003).

She is married to actor Randle Mell .