Kate Mara happy to be killed off in House of Cards

Kate Mara is next starring in the upcoming blockbuster Fantastic Four, playing Sue Storm.

House of Cards actress Kate Mara says that knowing her character Zoe Barnes would come to a gruesome end was a major factor in her taking on the role in the American political drama.

The 32-year-old's portrayal of a hard-nosed journalist in the Netflix series came to an end after her character was thrown in front of a train by the married politician she was having an affair with, played by Kevin Spacey.

While the plot twist shocked fans of the TV show, for Mara the shocking ending was the perfect way out.

She's told the Daily Mail's You magazine: "I knew from the moment I accepted the role that I was only contracted for 14 episodes and would have a grisly death at the start of the second season. I probably wouldn't have signed on otherwise.

"Kevin is amazing and hilarious. I adored working with him, and the show is genius; it has so many layers. I still binge-watch it just like everyone else. But I was ready to go and liked that I got such a definitive ending."

Mara, the older sister of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara, is next starring in the upcoming superheroes blockbuster Fantastic Four, playing Sue Storm - the Invisible Woman.

The actress revealed she was occasionally happy to stay out of sight herself, to help cope with her innate shyness.

She told You she was "so relieved" when she didn't win after being nominated for an Emmy for House Of Cards, saying: "I was sitting there in the audience panicking, thinking, 'Oh help, what if I win? Please don't make me have to go up there'!"

Mara also revealed she and her sister are keen to work together on a project, something their filming schedules have not yet allowed, and that they are "casually looking around for something we could do".

"So far, nothing has been quite right, but we want to do it."

- AAP