Maria Bello 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" 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.
(5 March 2001) Maria and her TV exec boyfriend, Dan McDermott , welcomed their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott.
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-Annes first son, and Carrie-Anne is the godmother of Marias 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 Bello, was a contractor and mother, Kathy Bello 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.
Flirted with a waiter at a family birthday party. The waiter became her fiance [July 26, 2008].
Had always wanted to be an action heroine, but gave up her dream two weeks before she turned 40, because she thought there would be no action roles for a lady her age. However, Rob Cohen called her up on her birthday and offered her the role in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor .
Her greatest memory from the set of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was being in the desert playing football with 15 stunt men dressed as mummies.
Lives in Venice, California with her son, Jackson Blue, 5. Jacksons father, Dan McDermott , lives a few blocks away.
(December 2013) Revealed in a self-penned essay in The New York Times that she suffered from a life-threatening illness in the summer of 2012.
Best friends with Amy Brenneman.
Maybe, in the end, a modern family is just a more honest family.
