Maria Belo is an American actress, who earned much prominence when she portrayed the role of Lil in the romantic comedy film of Cayote Ugly. She was born on April 18, 1967 in Norristown Pennsylvania, to Kathy and Joe Bello, a school nurse and a contractor. Her mother is an Italian American, while her father is a Polish American. Bello was baptized with the real name of Maria Elena Bello. She grew up in a working-class Roman Catholic family and she then graduated from the Archbishop Carroll High School, in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Bello also entered the Villanova University, where she took major in political science. It was said that Bello initially intended to be a lawyer. However, she took acting class when she was on her senior year.
She subsequently included in the casts in small Off-Broadway productions like The Killer Inside Me, Small Town Gals With Big Problems and in the production of the Urban Planning. She then starred in an episode of The Commish in year 1991 as well as in the 1995 Nowhere Man. On the same year, she appeared in Misery Loves Company and in year 1997 up to the year 1998, Bello appeared in the TV series entitled, ER. On the other hand, Bello’s break occurred when she was included by the producers Kerry Lenhart and John J. Sakmar in the TV series of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, where she portrayed the role of Mrs. Smith. However, the show had been pulled out of air after running for just eight weeks.
She then had a guest stint on the TV series of ER, portraying the role of the pediatrician Dr. Anna Del Amico. Bello subsequently starred in the romantic comedy drama film f Cayote Ugly, which also includes the stars of Piper Perabo and Adam Garcia as well as John Goodman. She then earned nomination for the Golden Globe Award for the Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal in the 2003 film of the Cooler as well as for Best Actress for her performance in the 2005 film called, A History of Violence. She the portrayed the role of Jocelyn in the 2007 romantic comedy film entitled, The Jane Austen Book Club, which also includes the stars of Emily Blunt and Kathy Baker as well as Hugh Dancy.
On the following year, Bello starred in the action adventure film of the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, where she portrayed the role of Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell, alongside Brendan Fraser and Jet Li. N year 2010, Bello appeared in the film called, The Yellow Handkerchief, together with William Hurt and Kristen Stewart as well as Eddie Redmayne. Also, in year 2010, it was reported that Bello will be having an appearance in two of the episodes of the TV series of Law & Order: SVU. She is also set to star in the NBC TV series entitled, Prime Suspect.
