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Coyote Ugly
Background:
American actress Maria Bello drew the public's attention for her successful
performance as cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario in the Vegas romance The
Cooler (2003), in which she received a runner-up prize from The National Society
of Film Critics. She also gained more notice in Coyote Ugly (2000), playing
tough talking, man-teasing bar owner Lil. The character garnered her a Favorite
Supporting Actress in a Comedy/Romance at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
On the small screen, the Golden Globe nominated actress won an Outstanding
Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award with the Screen Actors Guild
for her impressive performance as Dr. Anna Del Amino in the hit series ER
(1997-1998). However, she first raised public awareness while playing a member
of an intelligence agency, Mrs. Smith, in the spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996).
Off screen, best friend of ER costar Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order star),
Bello reportedly gives big support to the education of children. She co-founded
the Dream Yard Drama Project for Kids, a non-profit arts and education program
for children in Harlem. She also traveled to Africa where she spoke to children
and collected material for a book that examines the values of children from
different cultures.
As for her private life, Bello and TV executive boyfriend Dan McDermott welcomed
their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott, on March 5, 2001.
Karaoke Addict
Childhood and Family:
A mix of Polish and Italian heritage, Maria Elana Bello was born on April 18,
1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. One of three children to a construction
worker father and former school nurse and teacher mother, Maria spent her
childhood in a lower-class Pennsylvania suburb. She attended a Catholic high
school before going on to study pre-law and political science at Villanova
University. Though her dream was to be a lawyer, Maria took a drama class during
her senior year. Fortunately, she soon discovered her acting talent and decided
to pursue acting by first appearing on small off-Broadway plays.
A best friend to Carrie-Anne Moss, Maria now lives in Los Angeles. She is the
mother of one son, Jackson Blue McDermott (born March 5, 2001, father Dan
McDermott). During her off time, Maria practices a Taiwanese form of street
fighting, mo thai lethal kickboxing, and has become addicted to karaoke.
Commenting about her fun addiction, she said, "My friends and I have become
completely addicted. Even last week, we had a party for a friend. 30 people in a
backyard in Hollywood with a karaoke DJ singing till two in the morning."
Emergency Room
Career:
Initiating her acting in such small-Broadway plays as The Killer Inside Me,
Small Town Gals With Big Problems, and Urban Planning, Maria Bello, who once
worked as a bartender, dog walker and cleaned houses, debuted on television as a
guest star in episodes of The Commish (1991). She then could be seen acting in
Maintenance (1992) as well as making guest appearances in Due South (1994), The
Commish: In the Shadow of the Gallows (1995), Nowhere Man (1995) and Misery
Loves Company (1995).
Her breakthrough came from never aired shows in which producers Kerry Lenhart
and John J. Sakmar observed her acting and decided she was an ideal cast for
their spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996). Though the series was cancelled after
eight weeks, Bello successfully played the role of Mrs. Smith, a member of an
intelligent agency who teams with her husband, Mr. Smith (Scott Bakula), while
on missions.
Bello received another big break when she was cast in the 1994 series ER. At the
beginning, Maria was only signed on for three episodes but her impressive
performance won her a reoccurring role as Dr. Anna Del Amino for the 1997-1998
season. While working in the show, Bello was honored with a Screen Actors Guild
Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
The popularity she gained from ER helped Bello jump to wide screen projects.
Though Bello's first movie, Permanent Midnight (1998), was not popular, she then
starred in the blockbuster smash hit Payback (1999), playing prostitute Rosie
who helps actor Mel Gibson gain revenge.
In the year 2000, Bello could be seen acting in more than one movie. Her first
project was the independent movie Sam the Man, in which she played the role of
Anastasia Powell. She also portrayed bar owner Lil in Coyote Ugly. Her
performance handed her a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting
Actress in a Comedy/Romance. In her last film of the year, Bello starred with
Gwyneth Paltrow in the comedy Duets by portraying Suzi Loomis (a role she
declares turned her into a karaoke addict).
Entering 2001, Bello had a leading role in the IMAX movie China: The Panda
Adventure, which was an experience for the actress after spending months in
Asia. The following year, Maria gained notice for her character's portrayal in
Paul Schrader's drama Auto Focus (2002). She even received more attention as
cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario in the grainy Vegas romance The Cooler
(2003, starring William H. Macy). She was honored with a runner-up prize from
The National Society of Film Critics for the extreme realism she brought to her
character. Additionally, the role also brought her nominations with the Golden
Globe and Screen Actors Guild for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
After a role in Nobody's Perfect (2004), Bello starred in two films: an
adaptation of a Stephen King novel, Secret Window (2004, along with Johnny Depp
and John Turturro) and Silver City (2004, together with Thora Birch).
In 2005, Bello starred with Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne in Assault on
Precinct 13 (2005), played Marcia in The Sisters (2005), portrayed Edie Stall in
David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, and was seen as Adèle in The Dark
(2005). She also teamed with Aaron Eckhart, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall and
Katie Holmes in Thank You for Smoking (2005) and will star in the upcoming
Aftershock (2005) and My Friend Flicka (2006).
Awards:
- Blockbuster Entertainment: Favorite Supporting Actress in a
Comedy/Romance, Coyote Ugly, 2000
- Screen Actors Guild: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama
Series, ER, shared award, 1997
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