Born April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pa., Maria Bello was a cheerleader at Archbishop John Carroll High School for Girls in Philadelphia. She attended Villanova University with designs on a law degree, but a drama class turned her to acting instead.

Bello's work in off-Broadway plays landed her roles in numerous TV series of the early 1990s: "The Commish," "Nowhere Man," "Due South" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (in which she played the lead). Next for Bello was a three-episode appearance on "ER" that was extended into a regular character for the fourth season. She made her film debut in 1998's Permanent Midnight, followed by Coyote Ugly and Payback.

Bello's performances in The Cooler, A History of Violence and The Sisters (2005) have earned critical raves, award nominations and a legion of admirers. Her star continues to rise with films such as Thank You for Smoking and World Trade Center. ... - from Netflix