Maria Bello

Maria Bello was born on April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She initially pursued political science at Villanova University with the intention of becoming a lawyer. However, an acting class during her senior year shifted her focus towards performance. Bello began her career in off-Broadway theater productions, which led to guest appearances in television shows such as “The Commish” (1995), “Nowhere Man” (1995), “Misery Loves Company” (1995), and “Due South” (1996). Her television breakthrough came when she was cast as Mrs. Smith in the spy series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (1996). Following its cancellation, she joined the cast of “ER” (1997–1998) as Dr. Anna Del Amico, appearing in the final three episodes of the third season before becoming a regular cast member for the fourth season.

Transitioning to film, Bello secured a prominent role in “Permanent Midnight” (1998) and later in “Coyote Ugly” (2000). Her performances garnered critical acclaim, leading to two Golden Globe nominations: Best Supporting Actress for “The Cooler” (2003) and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for “A History of Violence” (2005). Other notable film credits include “Secret Window” (2004), “Assault on Precinct 13” (2005), “Thank You for Smoking” (2005), “World Trade Center” (2006), “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (2008), “Grown Ups” (2010), and “Prisoners” (2013). Her television work continued with roles in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2010), “Prime Suspect” (2011–2012), and a significant role as Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane in “NCIS” (2017–2021), spanning 73 episodes. In 2023, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Critics’ Choice Award for her performance in the limited series “Beef”.

Beyond acting, Maria Bello has expanded her career into producing and writing. She began producing short films in 2010 and served as a producer for the critically acclaimed film “The Woman King” (2022). She also contributed to the story for “The Woman King”. Bello is involved in philanthropy, co-founding WE ADVANCE to support Haitian women and serving on the board of Darfur Women Action Group, an NGO addressing the Darfur conflict. She also authored the book “Whatever…Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves,” published in 2015, which explores themes of modern relationships and identity.