Five Fast Facts About NCIS Star Maria Bello

Maria Bello is currently starring as Jack Sloane on NCIS, but the actress has been working in Hollywood since the 90s. Not only has she been on some of your favorite television shows, including ER and Law & Order: SVU, she’s also been in a number of successful movies.

From where she grew up to her award-winning work, here are five fast facts you need to know about NCIS star Maria Bello!

In the Beginning
Bellow was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania and spent her whole childhood outside of Philadelphia. She attended Villanova University for college and majored in political science.

Breakthrough Role
Bello’s first time as a lead on a television show was Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which aired on CBS in 1996. Though it only ran for 13 episodes, it still put her on the map as a successful actress and paired her up with Scott Bakula, who now leads NCIS: New Orleans.

Taking Pride
In November 2013, Bello revealed she was in a same-sex relationship with her then-partner, Clare Munn. The two are no longer together, but she did write a book about her experience of coming out called Whatever…Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves.

You Gotta Have Friends
Following the cancellation of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Bello joined the cast of ER as Dr. Anna Del Amico. She guested on the last three episodes of Season 4 and became a regular for just Season 4, but she managed to make a friend for life — Mariska Hargitay, who was guest-starring on the show as Cynthia Hooper.

Big Heart
Along with acting, Bello is also a humanitarian. In fact, she founded WE ADVANCE following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which helps Haitian women find healthcare and end domestic violence.