Maria Bello is a Golden Globe-nominated American actress who had her breakthrough performance in the 1996 television spy series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Soon after, Bello had a quest spot on the medical drama ER. Bello then made the transition from television to film, landing a role in Coyote Ugly, alongside Tyra Banks, Piper Perabo, Izabella Miko and Bridget Moynahan.

Bello has since starred in the films A History of Violence, The Dark, Thank You For Smoking, Flicka, World Trade Center and Butterfly on a Wheel. Recently she can be seen in Downloading Nancy, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

1. "I think it's great. It makes me feel like wow because I think I am a simple person in so many ways. I love my work, I love what I do so all this icing on the cake is very good." — Maria Bello on winning and being nominated for awards
2. "After I had my son, the moment he came out of my body, I felt more love than I ever could have imagined, and more fear than I ever could have imagined. Because I can't even go to the space to think of if something happened to Jack, what I would do." — Maria Bello on becoming a mom
3. "Traveling always gives me a new perspective on life, myself and the world. Taking trips allows me to not only find answers outside of myself but inside as well." — Maria Bello on traveling
4. "I don't think you understand what levels or what fears until you have a child of your own. I mean, I've never loved someone so much and I've never been so afraid in my life. And the truth is I would kill someone, whoever tried to hurt him. I would. I have no doubt about it." — Maria Bello on mothers protecting their children
5. "I don't want to be one of these actors who can't act anymore because they don't live." — Maria Bello on acting

• Note: Some of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• April 18, 1967: Born

• (1992) Maintenance: IMDb

• (1995) The Commish: IMDb

• (1996) Mr. & Mrs. Smith: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes

• (1997-98) ER: IMDb | Mahalo

• (1998): Wins Screen Actors Guild Award for ER

• (2000) Coyote Ugly: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2002) 100 Mile Rule: IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2005) A History of Violence: IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2005) The Dark: IMDb

• (2006) Flicka: IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2007) The Jane Austen Book Club: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2008) Yellow Handkerchief: IMDb | Mahalo

• (2008) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes