Maria Bello
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Maria Elaine Bello (born April 18, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American actress.
Early life
Born to an Italian father and a Polish mother, Bello grew up in a working-class Roman Catholic family. She attended Villanova University, majoring in political science. She had every intention of becoming a lawyer, but took an acting class during her senior year, just for fun. She was soon cast in small off-Broadway plays, such as The Killer Inside Me, Small Town Gals With Big Problems and Urban Planning. She later guest-starred on episodes of The Commish (1991), Nowhere Man (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995) and Due South (1994).Career
Bello got her breakthrough when producers Kenny Lenhart and John J. Sakmar cast her in the spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996) as Mrs. Smith; they remembered her from her performance in a failed pilot that was a remake of the classic TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1958/I). The show was cancelled after just eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on ER as Dr. Anna Del Amico, in which she guest-starred on the final three episodes of the third season. The show's producers were so impressed with her that they asked her back as a regular on the series. Bello also had a role in the movie Coyote Ugly. She has been twice nominated for a Golden Globe: In 2003, as Supporting Actress for The Cooler and in 2005, as Best Actress for A History of Violence.Personal life
Bello practices yoga and ballet every Thursday. Bello and her TV exec boyfriend, Dan McDermott, welcomed their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott, on March 5, 2001.She is good friends with actresses Mariska Hargitay and Carrie-Anne Moss. Bello is the godmother of Moss' first son Ezra. Moss is the godmother of Bello's son Jack.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2007 | Butterfly on a Wheel | Abby Warner | |
| 2006 | Thank You For Smoking | Polly Bailey | |
| 2005 | The Dark | Adele | |
| 2005 | A History of Violence | Edie Stall | |
| 2005 | Assault on Precinct 13 | Alex Sabian | |
| 2004 | Secret Window | Amy Rainey | |
| 2004 | Silver City | Nora Allardyce | |
| 2003 | The Cooler | Natalie Belisario | |
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Patricia Olson/Patrica Crane/Sigrid Valdis | |
| 2000 | Duets | Suzi Loomis | |
| 2000 | Coyote Ugly | Lil | |
| 1999 | Payback | Rosie | |
| 1998 | Permanent Midnight | Kitty |
External links
- [Maria-Bello.org • The Ultimate Maria Bello Fansite]
- [Bello interview, 2005, Philadelphia Daily News]
- [Bello interview, 2004, LookSmart]
- [Bello interview, 2004, Brentwood Magazine]
- [Bello interview, 1999, LookSmart]
- [Maria Bello Website]
- [Maria Bello Online]
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