Annabella Sciorra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Annabella Sciorra
Sciorra in 2008
Born	Annabella Gloria Philomena Sciorra (1960-03-29) March 29, 1960 (age 65) New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	HB Studio American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Joe Petruzzi ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1993)​

Annabella Gloria Sciorra (born March 29, 1960) is an American actress. She became well-known after her first movie, True Love (1989). Throughout the 1990s, she acted in many films like Jungle Fever (1991), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), and What Dreams May Come (1998).

Annabella Sciorra was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Gloria Trillo on the TV show The Sopranos (2001–2004). She also played Detective Carolyn Barek on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2005–2006). More recently, she had recurring roles on GLOW (2018), Truth Be Told (2019–2020), and Tulsa King (2022). She has also performed on stage, including a Broadway play called The ... with the Hat (2011).

Early Life and Education

Annabella Sciorra was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her parents were immigrants from Italy. Her mother was a fashion stylist, and her father was a veterinarian.

When she was a child, Sciorra studied dance. Later, she took acting classes at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. These schools helped her learn the skills she needed to become an actress.

Annabella Sciorra's Acting Career

Starting in Film and TV (1988–1990)

Annabella Sciorra began her acting career in 1988 with a small role in a TV miniseries called The Fortunate Pilgrim. She acted alongside the famous actress Sophia Loren.

In 1989, she got her first main movie role in the romantic comedy-drama True Love. Critics really liked her performance. One critic from The New York Times said she perfectly captured the movie's mood. This role earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

After that, she appeared in several other films in 1990. These included the thriller Internal Affairs with Richard Gere, the comedy Cadillac Man with Robin Williams, and the drama Reversal of Fortune. Reversal of Fortune was a big success and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Becoming a Star (1991–2000)

In 1991, Annabella Sciorra gained a lot of attention for her role in the drama Jungle Fever, directed by Spike Lee. She played Angie Tucci alongside Wesley Snipes. The movie was very well-received and was even considered for an award at the Cannes Film Festival. A critic from the Los Angeles Times praised her acting, saying she had a "considerable presence."

The next year, Sciorra starred in the popular psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (1992) with Rebecca De Mornay. This movie was a huge hit, staying at the top of the U.S. box office for a month. Critics admired her performance as Claire Bartel, noting how she showed a "passionately ordinary" woman.

Sciorra continued to work steadily through the 1990s. Her movies included the romantic film The Night We Never Met with Matthew Broderick and the crime thriller Romeo Is Bleeding with Gary Oldman (both 1993). She also appeared in the successful film Cop Land (1997) with Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro. In 1998, she co-starred again with Robin Williams in the fantasy drama What Dreams May Come. Film critic Roger Ebert called her role in that movie "heartbreakingly effective."

Television Success (2001–Present)

In 2001, Annabella Sciorra was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Gloria Trillo on the HBO show The Sopranos. She played this part on and off until 2004. This role was seen as a "career changing" moment for her.

She then appeared in the movie Find Me Guilty (2006), directed by Sidney Lumet. This film was based on a real-life story about a long Mafia trial. Critics praised Sciorra's performance in it.

Her other TV roles include main parts in the courtroom drama Queens Supreme (2003) and the medical drama Mental (2009). She also had guest roles on popular shows like The L Word, ER (both 2007), The Good Wife (2012), and CSI (2013). From 2005 to 2006, she had a recurring role as Detective Carolyn Barek on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

In 2018, Sciorra played Rosalie Carbone on the second season of Netflix's Luke Cage, a show based on Marvel Comics characters. The show's producer said he was a big fan of her work and that she was "no joke" in the role. She later played the same character in two episodes of Netflix's Daredevil.

From 2019 to 2020, Annabella Sciorra appeared in seven episodes of the Apple TV+ drama Truth Be Told. More recently, she has had recurring roles on New Amsterdam (2021), Godfather of Harlem (2021), Blue Bloods (2021–2022), and Tulsa King (2022).

Personal Life

Annabella Sciorra was married to actor Joe Petruzzi from 1989 to 1993. She also had a relationship with actor Bobby Cannavale from 2004 to 2007.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Recognition

See also

A friendly robot, representing kid-friendly content.

In Spanish: Annabella Sciorra para niños