Maria Bello Wiki, Bio, Age, Net Worth, and Other Facts

Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Maria Bello. Check it out!

Maria Bello was born on 18 April, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Kathy, a nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor. She is of Italian and Polish descent. Maria went to Villanova University, majoring in political science. She had every intention of becoming a lawyer, but she took an acting class during her senior year, just for fun. She discovered she was very good at it, and she was soon cast in small off-Broadway plays, such as “The Killer Inside Me”, “Small Town Gals With Big Problems” and “Urban Planning”. She later guest-starred on episodes of The Commish (1991), Nowhere Man (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995) and Due South (1994). She got her big break when producers Kenny Lenhart and John J. Sakmar cast her in the spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996) as “Mrs. Smith” (they remembered her from her performance in a failed pilot that was a remake of the classic TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1958)). The show was canceled after eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on ER (1994) as “Dr. Anna Del Amico”, in which she guest-starred on the final three episodes of the third season. The show’s producers were so impressed with her that they asked her back as a regular on the series.

Interesting Facts about Maria Bello

  • Comes from a Polish and Italian family.
  • Was a bridesmaid at Andrea Bendewald’s wedding, at which Jennifer Aniston was the matron of honor.
  • Revealed in a self-penned essay in The New York Times that she suffered from a life-threatening illness in the summer of 2012. [December 2013]
  • Lives in Venice, California with her son, Jackson Blue, 5. Jackson’s father, Dan McDermott, lives a few blocks away. [2006]
  • Best friends with Carrie-Anne Moss. Maria is the godmother of Carrie-Anne’s first son, and Carrie-Anne is the godmother of Maria’s son Jack.
  • Her mother, who is a cancer survivor, was in New York City with Maria on Sept. 11, 2001 during the attacks on the World Trade Center. Since her mother was a nurse, she volunteered to help the victims.
  • She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of twenty-eight.
  • Maria and her TV exec boyfriend, Dan McDermott, welcomed their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott. [March 2001]
  • Was a varsity cheerleader in school at Archbishop John Carroll High School in Suburban Philadelphia.
  • Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.
  • Became good friends with Mariska Hargitay when Hargitay had a recurring role as Cynthia Hooper on ER (1994) from 1997-1998.
  • Had always wanted to be an action heroine, but gave up her dream two weeks before she turned 40, because she thought there would be no action roles for a lady her age. However, Rob Cohen called her up on her birthday and offered her the role in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008).

Personal Quotes by Maria Bello

When I do Pilates, or when I do work out, I feel better all day. Yet I still struggle to keep it on my schedule.

Maria Bello

At first I didn’t know if I wanted to do TV again. I can get bored quickly.

Maria Bello

I want to do more action adventures and more romantic comedies.

Maria Bello

I remember listening to ‘Maniac’ and running around and thinking I’m going to be somebody someday.

Maria Bello

I always wanted the fairy tale, but now I want someone who is a great partner.

Maria Bello