Marisa Tomei Facts: Celebrities Who Started On Soaps

It’s no secret Marisa Tomei is one of the most successful actresses working today. She is probably best known for her role in the movie My Cousin Vinny, but the actress has appeared in everything from a soap to Marvel movies over the course of her career.

Not to mention, the hardworking actress has worked in theater, including on Broadway. From her work on a soap to winning an Oscar, here are five fast facts you need to know about the star.

Who Is Marisa Tomei?

Tomei was born on December 4 in Brooklyn New York. She was partly raised by her grandparents, along with her younger brother, Adam. She started getting involved in theater in high school and attended Boston University for one year.

Soap Beginnings
Tomei’s first role was on As The World Turns, playing the character of Marcy Thompson opposite Christian Le Blanc’s Kirk McColl. She was on the show for two years before leaving to pursue other roles.

Oscar-Winning Role
Tomei won her Oscar for playing Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny back in the early ‘90s. She is one of less than 30 actresses to win an Oscar for a comedic performance and she is one of the very few actors to win an Oscar after not being nominated for its predecessor awards that year.

Famous Goddaughter

Tomei is actually the godmother of Big Little Lies star Zoë Kravitz, who is the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet. Bonet and Tomei met and became good friends while working together on The Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World, and even became roommates.

Getting Personal With Marisa Tomei
Tomei dated future Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. in the early 90s after they met working together on the movie Chaplin. She then dated actor Dana Ashbrook and later had a relationship with actor Logan Marshall-Green.