Maria Elana Bello, American actress. Co-founder Dream Yard Drama Project for Kids, Harlem, New York City.
Background
Bello was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Kathy, a school nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor. Her father is Italian American, with roots in Montella, Italy, and her mother is Polish American. She grew up in a working-class Roman Catholic family and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Villanova University.
Career
She has appeared in the films Permanent Midnight (1998), Payback (1999), Coyote Ugly (2000), The Cooler (2003), A History of Violence (2005), Thank You for Smoking (2006) and The Jane Austen Book Club (2007). On television, she is known for her role as Doctor Anna Delegate Amico on the National Broadcasting Company medical drama Emergency (1997–1998). She starred as Lucy Robbins on the Fox series Touch alongside Kiefer Sutherland, in 2013.
She majored in political science at Villanova University.
Following graduation, Bello honed her acting skills in a number of New York theater productions. Bello"s early television appearances include episodes of The Commish (1991), Due South (1994), Nowhere Manitoba (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995) and Emergency (1997-1998).
Her breakthrough came when she was cast as Mistress Smith in the television series spy show Mr.
& Mistress Smith, though the show was canceled after eight weeks.
She then appeared in the final three episodes of the third season of Emergency as pediatrician Doctor Anna Delegate Amico and was a regular cast member during the medical drama"s fourth season. Bello moved on to films, landing a role in Coyote Ugly (2000). She starred in The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) as Jocelyn.
In 2008, Bello starred in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as Evelyn O"Connell.
In December 2008, Bello began developing a drama for Home Box Office. Besides starring in the new series, Bello will also serve as an executive producer. She starred in the 2009 Sundance film The Yellow Handkerchief, which was released in theatres on February 26, 2010 by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
In 2010 Bello guest starred in 2 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The next year she starred in the television series Prime Suspect, which was canceled after 13 episodes.
Bello sits on the board of The CQ Matrix Company.
2014 co-starred Frank Grillo in the James Wan produced thriller Demonic. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Bello founded WE ADVANCE with Aleda Frishman, Alison Thompson and Barbara Guillaume. lieutenant is an organization that encourages Haitian women to collaborate in making healthcare a priority, and putting an end to domestic violence within their communities.
Currently the organisation is based in a health clinic and a community outreach center in Cité Soleil.
Achievements
Membership
Bello is also a board member of Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG), a non-profit non-governmental organization that undertakes activism on behalf of genocide victims of the Darfur Conflict.