Trivia

Became good friends with Mariska Hargitay when Hargitay had a recurring role as Cynthia Hooper on ER (1994) from 1997-1998.

Her greatest memory from the set of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) was being in the desert playing football with 15 stunt men dressed as mummies.

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.

Comes from a Polish and Italian family.

Works with "Save the Children", nurturing kids in need.

Announced at the age of twenty-eight she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Flirted with a waiter at a family birthday party. The waiter became her fiance [July 26, 2008].

Practices Muay Thai (lethal) kickboxing.

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 (2008).

Best friends with Carrie-Anne Moss. Maria is the godmother of Carrie-Anne's first son, and Carrie-Anne is the godmother of Maria's son Jack.

Revealed in a self-penned essay in The New York Times that she suffered from a life-threatening illness in the summer of 2012. (December 2013)

Lives in Venice, California with her son, Jackson Blue, 5. Jackson's father, Dan McDermott, lives a few blocks away. (2006)

Best friends with Amy Brenneman.

Was a varsity cheerleader in school at Archbishop John Carroll High School in Suburban Philadelphia.

Father, Joe Bello, was a contractor and mother, Kathy Bello was a teacher and school nurse.

Maria and her TV exec boyfriend, Dan McDermott, welcomed their first child, Jackson Blue McDermott. (March 5, 2001)

She was considered to play Jean Grey in X-Men (2000), but the role went to Famke Janssen.

Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.

Was a bridesmaid at Andrea Bendewald's wedding, at which Jennifer Aniston was the matron of honor.

Has two brothers, Joseph and Christopher, and one sister, Lisa.

Has 2 dogs.