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Maria Bello
Maria Bello (31621213980).jpg
Bello in 2016
Born
Maria Elena Bello

(1967-04-18) April 18, 1967 (age 56)
Alma mater Villanova University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active 1991–present
Partner(s) Dan McDermott
Clare Munn
Dominique Crenn (2019–present; engaged)
Children 1

Maria Elena 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).

Outside of film, Bello appeared as Dr. Anna Del Amico on seasons three and four of ER (1997–1998). Her other credits include Michelle McBride on the first season of Goliath (2016), Special Agent "Jack" Sloane on NCIS (2017–2021), and Jordan Forster in Beef (2023), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2009, The Guardian named Bello one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

Early life

Bello was born April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Kathy, a school nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor. Her father is Italian American, with roots in Montella, Italy, and her mother is Polish American. She grew up in a working-class, Catholic family and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania. She majored in political science at Villanova University. Following graduation, Bello honed her acting skills in a number of New York theater productions.

Career

Maria Bello 2010
Bello at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles on March 5, 2010

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. 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. 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. The following year, she starred in the TV series Prime Suspect, 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. In 2014, she starred alongside Frank Grillo in the James Wan-produced thriller Demonic.

Bello began producing short films in 2010. In 2022, she was a producer on the film The Woman King.

Personal life

Bello has a son, Jackson, with her former boyfriend Dan McDermott. In November 2013, she wrote about having a same-sex relationship with her then-partner, Clare Munn. She published a book, Whatever...Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves (Dey Street Books, April 28, 2015).

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.

Philanthropy

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, the organization is based in a health clinic and a community outreach center in Cité Soleil. 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.

Filmography

Film

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 Cooler, TheThe Cooler Natalie Belisario
2004 Silver City Nora Allardyce
Secret Window Amy Rainey
2005 Assault on Precinct 13 Alex Sabian
History of Violence, AA History of Violence Edie Stall
Dark, TheThe Dark Adélle
2006 Thank You for Smoking Polly Bailey
Sisters, TheThe Sisters Marcia Prior Glass
Flicka Nell McLaughlin
World Trade Center Donna McLoughlin
2007 Jane Austen Book Club, TheThe Jane Austen Book Club Jocelyn
Towelhead Gail Monahan
Butterfly on a Wheel Abby Randall a.k.a. Shattered
2008 Yellow Handkerchief, TheThe Yellow Handkerchief May
Downloading Nancy Nancy Stockwell
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Evelyn O'Connell Replaces Rachel Weisz
2009 Private Lives of Pippa Lee, TheThe Private Lives of Pippa Lee Suky
2010 Company Men, TheThe 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 N/A Producer and story writer

Television

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)
2017 XQ Super School Live Herself Television special
2023 Beef Jordan Forster Recurring role; 6 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1997 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
ER
Won
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance
Coyote Ugly
Won
2003 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture The Cooler Nominated
National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Won
2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress A History of Violence Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Performance Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Golden Globe Award Best Actress Motion Picture – Drama Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Won
London Film Critics Circle Awards Actress of the Year Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated
Village Voice Film Poll Award Best Supporting Performance Won
2006 RiverRun International Film Festival's Jury Prize Best Actress
The Sisters
Won
Dixie Film Festival Prize Outstanding Actress in a Film Nominated
2009 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead
Downloading Nancy
Nominated
2013 National Board of Review Award Best Cast
Prisoners
Won
2022 Women Film Critics Circle Award Best Woman Storyteller
The Woman King
Nominated
2023 Black Reel Award Outstanding Film Won
AACTA International Award Best Screenplay Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Nominated
2024 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Beef
Pending
Critics' Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Pending

See also

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