Maria Bello
Biography
Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer born on April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Known professionally as Maria Bello, she is also credited under the names Maria Elaina Bello and Maria Elena Bell. Throughout her career, she has established a significant presence in the entertainment industry, accumulating 78 known credits in film and television. As a performer, she has navigated various roles across both mediums, building a professional reputation that spans several decades of work in the United States. Her background includes early experience in stage productions, which served as the foundation for her subsequent transition into broader screen acting roles.
Career overview
Maria Bello began her professional acting career performing in small off-Broadway plays. Her early stage work included roles in productions such as The Killer Inside Me, Small Town Gals with Big Problems, and Urban Planning. These initial performances provided the experience necessary for her to move into television and film projects, where she eventually gained wider recognition for her work.
Her career reached a significant turning point when she was cast by producers Kerry Lenhart and John J. Sakmar. This opportunity came in the form of the role of Mrs. Smith in the spy television series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which served as her big break in the industry. Since that time, she has continued to work as an actress, contributing to a total of 78 known credits throughout her career. Her professional trajectory reflects a consistent involvement in acting, moving from her origins in the off-Broadway theater circuit to established roles in television series.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Waterfront (2025) as Mae Buckley
- Hell in Paradise (2025) as Sam, mère Nina
- BEEF (2023) as Jordan
- The Woman King (2022) Story
- The Woman King (2022) Producer
- The Water Man (2020) as Sheriff Goodwin
- Giant Little Ones (2019) as Carly Winter
- Giant Little Ones (2019) Executive Producer
- Explained (2018) as Narrator (voice)
- Every Day (2018) as Lindsey
- Better Start Running (2018) as Agent McFadden
- The Sun Ladies (2018) as Xate Shingali (voice)
- Exit (2018) as Kim
- In Search of Fellini (2017) as Claire
- In Search of Fellini (2017) Executive Producer
- Goliath (2016) as Michelle McBride
- The 5th Wave (2016) as Sergeant Reznik
- Lights Out (2016) as Sophie
- Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (2016) as Self
- Max Steel (2016) as Molly McGrath
- The Late Bloomer (2016) as Brenda Newmans
- The Confirmation (2016) as Bonnie
- Wait Till Helen Comes (2016) as Jean
- The Journey Is the Destination (2016) as Kathy
- The Journey Is the Destination (2016) Executive Producer
- McFarland, USA (2015) as Cheryl White
- Bravetown (2015) as Martha
- Demonic (2015) as Dr. Elizabeth Klein
- Third Person (2014) as Theresa
- Big Driver (2014) as Tess Thorne
- Prisoners (2013) as Grace Dover
- Grown Ups 2 (2013) as Sally Lamonsoff
- Femme (2013) as Self
- Touch (2012) as Lucy Robbins
- Abduction (2011) as Mara Harper
- Beautiful Boy (2011) as Kate Carroll
- Prime Suspect (2011) as Jane Timoney
- Carjacked (2011) as Lorraine Burton
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Grown Ups (2010) as Sally Lamonsoff
- The Company Men (2010) as Sally Wilcox
- The Yellow Handkerchief (2009) as May
- The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) as Suky Sarkissian
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) as Evelyn O'Connell
- Towelhead (2008) as Gail Monahan
- Downloading Nancy (2008) as Nancy Stockwell
- Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) as Abby Randall
- The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) as Jocelyn
- World Trade Center (2006) as Donna McLoughlin
- Flicka (2006) as Nell McLaughlin
- This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) as Self - Actress in 'The Cooler'
- Too Commercial for Cannes (2006) as Self
- Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking' (2006) as Self
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- A History of Violence (2005) as Edie Stall
- Thank You for Smoking (2005) as Polly Bailey
- Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) as Dr. Alex Sabian
- The Dark (2005) as Adèlle
- The Sisters (2005) as Marcia Prior Glass
- The Tony Danza Show (2004)
- Secret Window (2004) as Amy Rainey
- Silver City (2004) as Nora Allardyce
- NCIS (2003) as Jack Sloane
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The Cooler (2003) as Natalie Belisario
- Auto Focus (2002) as Patricia Olson / Patrica Crane
- 100 Mile Rule (2002) as Monica
- China: The Panda Adventure (2001) as Ruth Harkness
- Sam the Man (2001) as Anastasia Powell
- Coyote Ugly (2000) as Lil
- Duets (2000) as Suzi Loomis
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Vivian Arliss
- Payback (1999) as Rosie
- Permanent Midnight (1998) as Kitty
- The View (1997) as Self
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996) as Mrs. Smith
- Nowhere Man (1995) as Emily Noonan
- Misery Loves Company (1995) as Joe's Former Film Student
- ER (1994) as Anna Del Amico
- Due South (1994) as Mackenzie King
- The Commish (1991)
- Grown Ups 3 as Sally Lamonsoff