Maria Bello

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Maria Bello
Bello in 2018
Born
Maria Elena Bello

(1967-04-18) April 18, 1967 (age 56)
Alma materVillanova University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1991–present
Partner(s)Dan McDermott
Clare Munn
Dominique Crenn (2019–present; engaged)[1][2]
Children1

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 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.[3]

Early life[edit]

Bello was born April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania,[4] to Kathy, a school nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor.[5] Her father is Italian American, with roots in Montella, Italy,[6] and her mother is Polish American.[7] She grew up in a working-class, Catholic family and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania.[8][9] She majored in political science at Villanova University. Following graduation, Bello honed her acting skills in a number of New York theater productions.[10]

Career[edit]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] The following year, she starred in the TV series Prime Suspect,[14] 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.[15] In 2014, she starred alongside Frank Grillo in the James Wan-produced thriller Demonic.[16]

Bello began producing short films in 2010. In 2022, she was a producer on the film The Woman King.[17]

Personal life[edit]

Bello has a son, Jackson, with her former boyfriend Dan McDermott.[18] In November 2013, she wrote about having a same-sex relationship with her then-partner, Clare Munn.[18][19] She published a book, Whatever...Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves (Dey Street Books, April 28, 2015).[20]

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.[21]

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, the organization is based in a health clinic and a community outreach center in Cité Soleil.[22] 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.[23]

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

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1997 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance 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 Won
Dixie Film Festival Prize Outstanding Actress in a Film Nominated
2009 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead Nominated
2013 National Board of Review Award Best Cast Won
2022 Women Film Critics Circle Award Best Woman Storyteller 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 Nominated
Critics' Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ Scott Huver, Alexia Fernández. "Maria Bello and Fiancée Dominique Crenn's Powerful Love Story: How Cancer Brought Them Closer". Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Callahan, Chrissy. "'NCIS' actress Maria Bello and award-winning chef Dominique Crenn are engaged". Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Maria Bello". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "Supporting, Encouraging and Challenging the WWME Community". eMatrimony. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "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)
  7. ^ "Maria Bello, 'Getting Better and Better'". Washingtonpost.com. August 11, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "Maria Bello". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  9. ^ "Maria Bello". AskMen.com. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  10. ^ "Maria Bello", NYTimes.com
  11. ^ "Maria Bello Interview". futuremovies.co.uk. April 1, 2001.
  12. ^ Schneider, Michael (December 21, 2008). "HBO seals deal with Maria Bello". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: Maria Bello Signs On to SVU". TVGuide.com.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 17, 2011). "Maria Bello To Star In NBC's 'Prime Suspect'". Deadline. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "CQ". ClareMunn.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2013. ... board members including founding board member Maria Bello...
  16. ^ "International Demonic Trailer Begins Haunting - Dread Central". January 5, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  17. ^ "The Woman King". IMDB. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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)
  21. ^ "Maria Bello Reveals She's Engaged to Chef Girlfriend Dominique Crenn: 'I've Finally Grown Up'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  22. ^ Bello, Maria (January 12, 2011). "How to ADVANCE Our Money in Haiti". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  23. ^ "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.

External links[edit]