Maria Bello Biography American actress Maria Bello received her first real exposure with a starring role in the television series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but she remains most noted for her later film work, including The Cooler and A History of Violence.
Maria Elana Bello was born April 18, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Joe Bello and Kathy Bello, a contractor and teacher respectively. She is of Polish and Italian descent. Growing up in a Catholic household, Bello attended Archbishop Carroll High School. She pursued her secondary education from Villanova University where she secured a degree in political science.
Although Bello originally intended to enter law, she fell in love with acting when she took a drama class at Villanova. Dropping her previous aspirations, Bello began making regular appearances onstage in productions such as The Killer Inside Me, Urban Planning, and others. Transitioning to film and television, Bello made her onscreen debut in 1992 with Maintenance. She could then be seen in various one-episode stints for programs such as Misery Loves Company, Nowhere Man, The Commish, and Due South. But it was 1996 that offered her first recurring role. Cast as Mrs. Smith opposite Scott Bakula in the television series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Bello was with program for thirteen episodes before it was canceled. Bouncing back the following year, Bello increased her exposure with a role on the popular medical drama ER. She portrayed Dr. Anna Del Amico from 1997 to 1998, and during this time, she shared the screen with series regulars Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, and others. Finding her way to the big screen, Bello was then cast opposite Mel Gibson for the 1999 thriller Payback. She also appeared with Gregg Henry and Lucy Liu.
Taking more commercial projects, Bello could also be seen as the feisty barkeep Lil in Coyote Ugly with Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, John Goodman, Bridget Moynahan, and Tyra Banks. After a turn in Auto Focus opposite Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe, Bello had her first real critical success in The Cooler. Directed by Wayne Kramer, the film starred William H Macy and Alec Baldwin. Bello earned her first Golden Globe nomination, while Baldwin also landed a nod from the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Others may recognize Bello for her work in the Stephen King adaptation Secret Window (with Johnny Depp and John Turturro) and Assault on Precinct 13 opposite Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Drea de Matteo, and Gabriel Byrne. Bello was once again acknowledged by the Golden Globes in 2006 with A History of Violence. Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, and William Hurt costarred. And she impressed again in 2005 with Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking with Aaron Eckhart. Most recently, she could be seen in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The film starred Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, and John Hannah. In her personal life, Bello was romantically linked to Dan McDermott for many years. They welcomed a son together in 2001. They eventually split, however, and she is currently with Bryn Mooser, a part-time artist and waiter. | 
