Trivia

Teacher of Acting for the Camera at the Fordham University Theatre Program.

Along with S. Epatha Merkerson, Milena Govich, Jeremy Sisto and Jerry Orbach and Camryn Manheim, one of only six Law & Order (1990) cast members to play a different character in an episode before joining the cast in a later season. (Michael Imperioli also played multiple roles, but was not a permanent addition to the cast as Det. Nick Falco.).

Her father is of half Italian and half Slovak descent. Her mother is of half Italian and half Lebanese-Syrian ancestry.

Nominated for a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award for her performance in the off-Broadway play, "Becky Shaw" (Outstanding Lead Actress).

She took her stage name from her late great-grandmother, Anna Maria Parisse, who lived in Washington, the wife of her great-grandfather Gaetano Cancelmi.

Sister-in-law of Elisabeth Waterston, Katherine Waterston, Graham Waterston.

Has two children with her husband, Paul Sparks - a son Emmett Sparks (b. October 2009) and a daughter Lydia Sparks (b. 2014).

Nominated for a 2007 Drama Desk Award for her performance in "The Internationalist" (Outstanding Actress in a Play).

Her father is a senior executive with Alaska Air and her mother is a first-grade teacher at Newport Heights Elementary.

Attended Fordham University in New York City.

Her paternal grandfather was an Agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Justice (1934-1941) and a Western Pennsylvania District Supervisor of the State Parole Board (1942-1968).

Her mother is a teacher at Saint Kilian Parish School in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Graduated from Mercer Island High School, near Seattle, WA. (1993)

Parents: Louis G. "Lou" and Annette Cancelmi.

Siblings: Louis Cancelmi, an actor and writer, and Michael Cancelmi, Italian teacher.

Her godfather is her uncle Harry J., Jr., who is a defense attorney.

Grandparents: Harry J., Sr., and Mary Smetana Cancelmi.

Has two uncles, Norbert A. Cancelmi, of Bethel Park, and Harry J. Cancelmi, Jr., of Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, and three cousins.