Maria Bello is starring this Fall in the new NBC crime drama “Prime Suspect”. She will be playing Detective Jane Timoney who is described as being both reckless and brilliant. Here are a few facts about the film and television star:
Personal Life Facts
Maria Bello was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Her dad was a construction worker and her mom was a nurse. She studied law at Villanova University before deciding to become an actress.
She has an 8 year old son named Jackson Blue.
Acting Facts
She fell in love with acting after taking an acting class in college. She felt too selfish to become an actress until her mentor told her that “you serve best by doing the thing that you love most.”
“Prime Suspect” isn’t the first TV show for Maria Bello. During the 90’s, she starred on the TV show “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and she played Dr. Anna Del Amico on another NBC drama, “ER”.
Movie Facts
On Downloading Nancy: “Part of me thinks when I did ‘Nancy,’ it was the end of something for me. I feel like I did it, like I can’t do better than that in terms of getting my demons out and portraying the biggest darkness that somebody can have on screen.”
On Grown Ups: Adam Sandler moved the actress to tears during the scene in Grown Ups where he gives a eulogy.
On The Mummy – Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Her role in The Mummy was a dream come true because she always wanted to play an Indiana Jones type character. And a bonus to that for the actress was the fact her son thought it was cool too.
On The Cooler: The actress considers The Cooler to be her breakthrough role.
Fun Facts
Maria Bello told the New York Post that her friends in college were her grandmother and 65 year old mentor Ray Jackson. She enjoys the company of senior citizens because they have really lived.
She enjoys self-help and philosophy subjects.
Actress Carrie-Anne Moss is godmother to her son.
Fact Sources
MovieFone, “5 Questions with: Maria Bello”. (blog.moviefone.com)
New York Post, “Full of Grace: Maria Bello” (www.nypost.com)