Maria Elana Bello was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on April 18, 1967. One of three children, Maria spent her formative years in the working-class Pennsylvania suburb, where her mother was a teacher and school nurse, and her father a construction worker. Maria is of Polish and Italian descent, and attended a Catholic high school before heading off to Villanova University to study pre-law and political science, with the intention of becoming a lawyer.

That all changed when a friend suggested she take a drama class as an elective. Maria was immediately bitten by the acting bug and, after graduating in 1989, she went to New York City with just $300 to her name, determined to become a star.

While living on a friend's floor for a year because she couldn't afford her own place, Maria was cast in some commercials and off-Broadway plays, and earned some guest-starring roles on TV shows like The Commish and Due South.

Rating: 2

So you can still go wrong with a simple strapless white number. With an ill-fitting dress, boring shoes and curls in desperate need of some finger combing, Maria needs to check the mirror twice before heading out.

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