Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Marisa Tomei. Check it out!
Marisa Tomei was born on December 4, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, to Patricia “Addie” (Bianchi), a teacher of English, and Gary Tomei, a lawyer, both of Italian descent. Marisa has a brother, actor Adam Tomei. As a child, Marisa’s mother frequently corrected her speech as to eliminate her heavy Brooklyn accent. As a teen, Marisa attended Edward R. Murrow High School and graduated in the class of 1982. She was one year into her college education at Boston University when she dropped out for a co-starring role on the CBS daytime drama As the World Turns (1956). Her role on that show paved the way for her entrance into film: in 1984, she made her film debut with a bit part in The Flamingo Kid (1984). Three years later, Marisa became known for her role as Maggie Lawton, Lisa Bonet’s college roommate, on the sitcom A Different World (1987).
Interesting Facts about Marisa Tomei
- Listed as one of twelve “Promising New Actors of 1991” in John Willis’ Screen World, Vol. 43.
- Attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, New York. Her brother, Adam Tomei, and Darren Aronofsky also attended this high school.
- Is one of 25 actresses who have received an Academy Award for their performance in a comedy; hers being for My Cousin Vinny (1992). The others in chronological order, are: Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night (1934)), Loretta Young (The Farmer’s Daughter (1947)), Josephine Hull (Harvey (1950)), Judy Holliday (Born Yesterday (1950)), Audrey Hepburn (Roman Holiday (1953)), Goldie Hawn (Cactus Flower (1969)), Glenda Jackson (A Touch of Class (1973)), Lee Grant (Shampoo (1975)), Diane Keaton (Annie Hall (1977)), Maggie Smith (California Suite (1978)), Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard (1980)), Jessica Lange (Tootsie (1982)), Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck (1987)), Cher (Moonstruck (1987)), Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy (1989)), Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King (1991)), Dianne Wiest (Bullets Over Broadway (1994)), Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite (1995)), Frances McDormand (Fargo (1996)), Helen Hunt (As Good as It Gets (1997)), Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook (2012)).
- Was offered the role of Trinity in The Matrix (1999) but turned down the role.
- In the early 1990s, she had a relationship with Robert Downey Jr. (her co-star in Chaplin (1992) and Only You (1994)). In 1999, she was with actor Dana Ashbrook and had a relationship with Frank Pugliese. She (as of 2009) now dates actor Logan Marshall-Green, who is twelve years her junior.
- No relation to Concetta Tomei.
- Born on the same day as Chelsea Noble.
- One of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People 2009.
- Was the 104th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for My Cousin Vinny (1992) at The 65th Annual Academy Awards (1993) on March 29, 1993.
- Turned down the female lead in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) which went to Andie MacDowell.
- Announced in 7 February 2005 edition of New York Times, she has signed to join the cast of Neil LaBute’s “This Is How It Goes” at New York’s Public Theatre, beginning previews, March 8, 2005, co-starring Ben Stiller. [February 2005]
- Until Captain America: Civil War (2016), she had never starred in a sequel or a prequel to a film.
Personal Quotes by Marisa Tomei
Politics itself is so unsexy, isn’t it? But when the politics in creative works are really explored – not used as a vehicle – the results can be really interesting.
Marisa Tomei
With acting, it was really more of a general kind of experience of really just loving being in the theater.
Marisa Tomei
Singing really oxygenates your blood. You stretch your lungs and take in much more air into them than before. It’s really good for your health.
Marisa Tomei
I feel like theatre gives me the grounding, and keeps me alive, basically. Film gives me the thrill, and it’s like a one night stand. But I do enjoy being around people who love it so much.
Marisa Tomei
You can’t really be old in L.A., it’s kind of like a crime.
Marisa Tomei
