Maria Bello

Maria Bello (born April 18, 1967) is an American actress and producer. Her first major film role was in 1998's Permanent Midnight. She followed this with a range of supporting and leading parts in films such as Payback, Coyote Ugly (2000), The Cooler (2003), Secret Window (2004), Assault on Precinct 13, A History of Violence, Thank You for Smoking (all 2005), World Trade Center (2006), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Grown Ups (2010), Prisoners (2013), and Lights Out (2016).

Outside of film, Bello is best known for playing Anna Del Amico in the medical drama ER (1997–1998) and Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane in the police procedural drama NCIS (2017–2021). She received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Critics' Choice Award for her performance in the limited series Beef (2023). In 2009, The Guardian named her one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

Early life Bello was born April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Kathy, a school nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor. Her father is of Italian ancestry, with roots in Montella, Italy, and her mother is of Polish ancestry. She grew up in a working-class, Catholic family and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania. She majored in political science at Villanova University. Following graduation, Bello honed her acting skills in a number of New York theater productions.

Career

Bello's early TV appearances include episodes of The Commish (1991), Due South (1994), Nowhere Man (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995), and ER (1997–98). Her breakthrough came when she was cast as Mrs. Smith in the TV series spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith, though the show was cancelled after eight weeks. She then appeared in the final three episodes of the third season of ER as pediatrician Dr. Anna Del Amico and was a regular cast member during the medical drama's fourth season.

Bello moved on to films, landing a role in Coyote Ugly (2000). She was nominated for the Golden Globe award twice: for Best Supporting Actress in The Cooler (2003) and for Best Actress in A History of Violence (2005). She starred in The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) as Jocelyn and as Dr. Alex Sabian in the 2005 film, Assault on Precinct 13, a remake of the original 1976 movie made by John Carpenter. In 2008, she starred in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as Evelyn O'Connell, replacing Rachel Weisz. In December 2008, Bello began developing a drama for HBO. Besides starring in the new series, Bello planned to also serve as an executive producer. She starred in the 2009 drama film The Yellow Handkerchief, which was released in theatres on February 26, 2010, by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

In 2010, Bello guest starred in two episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The following year, she starred in the TV series Prime Suspect, which was cancelled after 13 episodes. In 2011, she became a founding board member of the CQ Matrix Company, a company created by her then-partner, Clare Munn, to help clients achieve "transformative living and the power of intelligent exchange" by enhancing their communication quotient. In 2014, she starred alongside Frank Grillo in the James Wan-produced thriller Demonic.

Bello began producing short films in 2010. In 2022, she was a producer on the film The Woman King.

Personal life

Bello has a son, Jackson, with her former boyfriend Dan McDermott. Bello's book, Whatever...Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves, was published in 2015. Bello and Munn split the same year and the actress was rumoured to be dating Elijah Allan-Blitz.

Bello and chef Dominique Crenn became engaged on December 29, 2019, while holidaying in Paris. They were married in a ceremony in Mexico on May 12, 2024. Bello filed for divorce in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.

Philanthropy Bello has been involved in several advocacy and philanthropic causes. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Bello founded WE ADVANCE with Aleda Frishman, Barbara Guillaume, and Alison Thompson. It is an organization that encourages Haitian women to collaborate in making healthcare a priority, and putting an end to domestic violence within their communities. , the organization is based in a health clinic and a community outreach center in Cité Soleil. Bello led fundraising efforts in Philadelphia and donated to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. She is also a board member of Darfur Women Action Group, an NGO that undertakes activism on behalf of genocide victims of the Darfur conflict.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Misery Loves CompanyJoe's Former Film StudentEpisode: "That Book by Nabokov" 1995 Nowhere Man Emily Noonan Episode: "The Enemy Within" 1995 The CommishBetsyEpisode: "In the Shadows of the Gallows" 1996 Due SouthMackenzie KingEpisode: "One Good Man" 1996–1997 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Mrs. Smith 13 episodes 1997–1998 ER Dr. Anna Del Amico Recurring role (season 3); main role (season 4) 2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Vivian Arliss 2 episodes 2011–2012 Prime Suspect Jane Timoney 13 episodes 2012–2013 Touch Lucy Robbins 13 episodes 2014 Big Driver Tess ThorneTelevision film 2016 Goliath Michelle McBride 8 episodes 2017–2021 NCIS Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane Main role (season 15–18); 73 episodes 2017 XQ Super School Live Herself Television special 2023 Beef Jordan Forster Recurring role; 6 episodes 2025 The Waterfront Belle Buckley Main role; 8 episodes

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1997 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance 2003 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureThe Cooler National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture 2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress A History of Violence Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Performance Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award Best Actress Motion Picture – Drama Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress London Film Critics Circle Awards Actress of the Year New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Village Voice Film Poll Award Best Supporting Performance 2006 RiverRun International Film Festival's Jury Prize Best Actress Dixie Film Festival Prize Outstanding Actress in a Film 2009 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead 2013 National Board of Review Award Best Cast 2022 Women Film Critics Circle Award Best Woman Storyteller 2023 Black Reel Award Outstanding Film AACTA International Award Best Screenplay NAACP Image Award Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture 2024 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Critics' Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television