Maria Bello

'Maria Bello' (qv) 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)_ (qv), _Nowhere Man (1995)_ (qv), _Misery Loves Company (1995)_ (qv) and _Due South (1994)_ (qv). She got her big break when producers 'Kenny Lenhart' (qv) and 'John J. Sakmar' (qv) cast her in the spy show _Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996)_ (qv) 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)_ (qv)). The show was canceled after eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on _ER (1994)_ (qv) 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.::<NICKOR@aol.com>