Maria Bello (born April 18, 1967) is an American actress, writer, and producer. Her first major film role was in 1998's Permanent Midnight. She followed this with a range of supporting and leading parts in films such as Payback (1999), Coyote Ugly (2000), The Cooler (2003), Secret Window (2004), Assault on Precinct 13, A History of Violence, Thank You for Smoking (all 2005), World Trade Center (2006), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Grown Ups (2010), Prisoners (2013), and Lights Out (2016).
Maria Bello | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bello in 2018 | |
| Born | April 18, 1967 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Villanova University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Outside of film, Bello is best known for playing Anna Del Amico in the medical drama ER (1997–1998) and Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane in the police procedural drama NCIS (2017–2021). She received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Critics' Choice Award for her performance in the limited series Beef (2023). In 2009, The Guardian named her one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.[1]
Early life edit
Bello was born April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania,[2] to Kathy, a school nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor.[3] Her father is Italian American, with roots in Montella, Italy,[4] and her mother is Polish American.[5] She grew up in a working-class, Catholic family and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania.[6][7] She majored in political science at Villanova University. Following graduation, Bello honed her acting skills in a number of New York theater productions.[8]
Career edit
Bello's early TV appearances include episodes of The Commish (1991), Due South (1994), Nowhere Man (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995), and ER (1997–98). Her breakthrough came when she was cast as Mrs. Smith in the TV series spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith, though the show was cancelled after eight weeks. She then appeared in the final three episodes of the third season of ER as pediatrician Dr. Anna Del Amico and was a regular cast member during the medical drama's fourth season.
Bello moved on to films, landing a role in Coyote Ugly (2000). She was nominated for the Golden Globe award twice: for Best Supporting Actress in The Cooler (2003) and for Best Actress in A History of Violence (2005). She starred in The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) as Jocelyn and as Dr. Alex Sabian in the 2005 film, Assault on Precinct 13, a remake of the original 1976 movie made by John Carpenter. In 2008, she starred in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as Evelyn O'Connell, replacing Rachel Weisz.[9] In December 2008, Bello began developing a drama for HBO. Besides starring in the new series, Bello planned to also serve as an executive producer.[10] She starred in the 2009 drama film The Yellow Handkerchief, which was released in theatres on February 26, 2010, by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
In 2010, Bello guest starred in two episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[11] The following year, she starred in the TV series Prime Suspect,[12] which was cancelled after 13 episodes. In 2011, she became a founding board member of the CQ Matrix Company, a company created by her then-partner, Clare Munn, to help clients achieve "transformative living and the power of intelligent exchange" by enhancing their communication quotient.[13] In 2014, she starred alongside Frank Grillo in the James Wan-produced thriller Demonic.[14]
Bello began producing short films in 2010. In 2022, she was a producer on the film The Woman King.[15]
Personal life edit
Bello has a son, Jackson, with her former boyfriend Dan McDermott.[16] In November 2013, she wrote about having a same-sex relationship with her then-partner, Clare Munn.[16][17] She published a book, Whatever...Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves (Dey Street Books, April 28, 2015).[18]
In February 2020, while attending the 92nd Academy Awards in their first public appearance as a couple, Bello announced she and chef Dominique Crenn had become engaged on December 29, 2019, while holidaying in Paris, France.[19] They got married in a ceremony in Mexico on May 12, 2024.[20]
Philanthropy edit
Bello has been involved in several advocacy and philanthropic causes. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Bello founded WE ADVANCE with Aleda Frishman, Barbara Guillaume, and Alison Thompson. It is an organization that encourages Haitian women to collaborate in making healthcare a priority, and putting an end to domestic violence within their communities. As of 2011[update], the organization is based in a health clinic and a community outreach center in Cité Soleil.[21] Bello led fundraising efforts in Philadelphia and donated to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. She is also a board member of Darfur Women Action Group, an NGO that undertakes activism on behalf of genocide victims of the Darfur conflict.[22]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Maintenance | Eddie | |
| 1994 | Morphosis | Boss | |
| 1998 | Permanent Midnight | Kitty | |
| 1999 | Payback | Rosie | |
| 2000 | Coyote Ugly | Lil Lovell | |
| Duets | Suzi Loomis | ||
| 2001 | China: The Panda Adventure | Ruth Harkness | |
| Sam the Man | Anastasia Powell | ||
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Patricia Olson / Patricia Crane / Sigrid Valdis | |
| 100 Mile Rule | Monica | ||
| 2003 | The Cooler | Natalie Belisario | |
| 2004 | Silver City | Nora Allardyce | |
| Secret Window | Amy Rainey | ||
| 2005 | Assault on Precinct 13 | Alex Sabian | |
| A History of Violence | Edie Stall | ||
| The Dark | Adélle | ||
| 2006 | Thank You for Smoking | Polly Bailey | |
| The Sisters | Marcia Prior Glass | ||
| Flicka | Nell McLaughlin | ||
| World Trade Center | Donna McLoughlin | ||
| 2007 | The Jane Austen Book Club | Jocelyn | |
| Towelhead | Gail Monahan | ||
| Butterfly on a Wheel | Abby Randall | a.k.a. Shattered | |
| 2008 | The Yellow Handkerchief | May | |
| Downloading Nancy | Nancy Stockwell | ||
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | Evelyn O'Connell | Replaces Rachel Weisz | |
| 2009 | The Private Lives of Pippa Lee | Suky | |
| 2010 | The Company Men | Sally Wilcox | |
| Grown Ups | Sally Lamonsoff | ||
| 2011 | Beautiful Boy | Kate Carroll | |
| Abduction | Mara Harper | ||
| Carjacked | Lorraine | ||
| 2013 | Grown Ups 2 | Sally Lamonsoff | |
| Prisoners | Grace Dover | ||
| Third Person | Theresa | ||
| 2015 | McFarland, USA | Cheryl White | |
| Demonic | Dr. Elizabeth Klein | ||
| Bravetown | Martha | ||
| 2016 | The 5th Wave | Sergeant Reznik | |
| The Confirmation | Bonnie | ||
| Lights Out | Sophie | ||
| The Late Bloomer | Brenda Newmans | ||
| Max Steel | Molly McGrath | ||
| Wait Till Helen Comes | Jean | a.k.a. Little Girl's Secret | |
| The Journey Is the Destination | Kathy Eldon | Also executive producer | |
| 2017 | In Search of Fellini | Claire | Also executive producer |
| 2018 | Every Day | Lindsey | |
| Better Start Running | Agent McFadden | ||
| Giant Little Ones | Carly Winter | Also executive producer | |
| 2020 | The Water Man | Sheriff Goodwin | |
| 2022 | The Woman King | — | Producer and story writer |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Misery Loves Company | Joe's Former Film Student | Episode: "That Book by Nabokov" |
| 1995 | Nowhere Man | Emily Noonan | Episode: "The Enemy Within" |
| 1995 | The Commish | Betsy | Episode: "In the Shadows of the Gallows" |
| 1996 | Due South | Mackenzie King | Episode: "One Good Man" |
| 1996–1997 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Mrs. Smith | 13 episodes |
| 1997–1998 | ER | Dr. Anna Del Amico | Recurring role (season 3); main role (season 4) |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Vivian Arliss | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Prime Suspect | Jane Timoney | 13 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Touch | Lucy Robbins | 13 episodes |
| 2014 | Big Driver | Tess Thorne | Television film |
| 2016 | Goliath | Michelle McBride | 8 episodes |
| 2017–2021 | NCIS | Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane | Main role (season 15–18); 73 episodes |
| 2017 | XQ Super School Live | Herself | Television special |
| 2023 | Beef | Jordan Forster | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
Awards and nominations edit
References edit
- ^ Singer, Leigh (February 19, 2009). "Oscars: the best actors never to have been nominated". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Maria Bello". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "Supporting, Encouraging and Challenging the WWME Community". eMatrimony. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ "All'attrice Maria Bello l'Ischia Humanitarian Award / Actress Maria Bello: Ischia Humanitarian Award". Napoli.repubblica.it. July 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
Il nonni paterni di Maria Bello, 45 anni, erano originari di Montella, in provincia di Avellino / The paternal grandparents of Maria Bello, 45, were from Montella, Avellino
(in Italian) - ^ "Maria Bello, 'Getting Better and Better'". Washingtonpost.com. August 11, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ "Maria Bello". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "Maria Bello". AskMen.com. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "Maria Bello", NYTimes.com
- ^ "Maria Bello Interview". futuremovies.co.uk. April 1, 2001.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (December 21, 2008). "HBO seals deal with Maria Bello". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ "Exclusive: Maria Bello Signs On to SVU". TVGuide.com.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 17, 2011). "Maria Bello To Star In NBC's 'Prime Suspect'". Deadline. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "CQ". ClareMunn.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
... board members including founding board member Maria Bello...
- ^ "International Demonic Trailer Begins Haunting - Dread Central". January 5, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "The Woman King". IMDB. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Eggenberger, Nicole (December 2, 2013). "Maria Bello Shares 'Modern Family' Picture With Girlfriend Clare Munn and Ex-Boyfriend Dan McDermott After Coming Out as Gay". Us Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ Bello, Maria (November 29, 2013). "Coming Out as a Modern Family - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. New York. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ Bello, Maria (2015). Whatever ... love is love : questioning the labels we give ourselves (First ed.). New York. ISBN 978-0-06-235183-8. OCLC 906815841.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Maria Bello Reveals She's Engaged to Chef Girlfriend Dominique Crenn: 'I've Finally Grown Up'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "Maria Bello and Dominique Crenn are officially married!". www.advocate.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Bello, Maria (January 12, 2011). "How to ADVANCE Our Money in Haiti". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ "Maria Bello, Darfur Women Action Group Board Member | Darfur Women Action Group". www.darfurwomenaction.org. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2022.