Maria Bello was born on 18 April, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She 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, Nowhere Man, Misery Loves Company and Due South. She got her big break when producers Kenny Lenhart and John J. Sakmar cast her in the spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith 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). The show was canceled after eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on ER 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.
Practices Muay Thai (lethal) kickboxing. Comes from a Polish and Italian Family. Maria and her TV exec boyfriend, Dan McDermott, welcomed their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott. [5 March 2001] Was a bridesmaid at Andrea Bendewald's wedding, the same one in which Jennifer Aniston was the matron of honor. Became good friends with Mariska Hargitay when Hargitay had a recurring role as Cynthia Hooper on ER from 1997-1998. 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. Was a varsity cheerleader in school at Archbishop John Carroll High School in Suburban Philadelphia. Invited to join AMPAS in 2006. Father, Joe, was a contractor and mother, Kathy, was a teacher and school nurse. Works with "Save the Children", nurturing kids in need. 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. Has two brothers, Joseph and Christopher, and one sister, Lisa. Has 2 dogs.