Q&A: Kate Mara

SI: How much was football the subject of family dinners?

Mara: It's part of our lives. Now I call my dad a lot -- especially living in L.A. -- to talk to him about football. I have become more of a fan and my brothers always talk about football during family dinners.

SI: Where do you watch the Giants when you are in Los Angeles?

Mara: My great friend Kenny is a crazy Giants fan. We both moved to L.A. from New York at the same time. We always watch the games together. If we win, we'll go out and celebrate. If we lose, we don't talk to each other for days.

SI: You were in the air on 9/11, flying from New York's Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles. Your plane was grounded in Kansas City. What was that day like for you?

Mara: Surreal. We were in the air and they said there was air traffic. I didn't think twice about it. I figured we would get back in the air. I was by myself, and when we landed someone had gotten someone on their cell phone and announced what had happened. The whole plane started talking about it. No one thought it was possible. I honestly didn't believe it. I never thought about who I knew in the World Trade Center. How do you comprehend something like that happening? As we were walking off the plane I finally got my mom on the phone and she reminded me that my dad had his three best friends in there. The feeling that came over me at the moment, I couldn't even stand up. I was by myself, a young girl by herself, but I remember people came up to me and helped me get to the hotel. All my dad was doing the entire time was to try to get me home. He called the Kansas City Chiefs to talk to them about helping me get home. Finally we decided I would take a train to Pittsburgh and my grandparents -- the Rooney side --and my dad and mom all picked me up there.

SI: You can choose one: a Super Bowl win or an Academy Award.

Mara: Super Bowl. I can't imagine wining an Academy Award, but I could imagine a Super Bowl. And many, for that matter. Let's be honest: I just want a Super Bowl ring.