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Marisa Tomei
Tomei at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival
Born (1964-12-04) December 4, 1964 (age 60)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Alma materBoston University
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

Marisa Tomei (/məˈrɪsə toʊˈmeɪ/; Italian pronunciation: [maˈriːza toˈmɛi]; born December 4, 1964)[1] is an American actress. In a career spanning three decades, Tomei had initial success in films as a young actress, followed by a series of unsuccessful films, then a resurgence with a series of critically acclaimed films. Following her work on the television series As the World Turns, she came to prominence as a cast member on The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World in 1987. After having minor roles in a few films, she came to international attention in 1992 with the comedy My Cousin Vinny, for which she received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Of the many films in which Tomei has appeared, her most commercially successful ones to date are What Women Want (2000), Anger Management (2003), Wild Hogs (2007), and Parental Guidance (2012), all of which have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office.[2] She received critical acclaim for her performances in films such as Untamed Heart (1993), The Paper (1994), Unhook the Stars (1996), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), In the Bedroom (2001) (for which she received her second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), The Wrestler (2008) (for which she received her third Academy Award nomination), Cyrus (2010), and Love Is Strange (2014).

Tomei has also done substantial work in theater. She was formerly involved with the Naked Angels Theatre Company and received acclaim for her performance in plays like Daughters (1986), Wait Until Dark (1998), Top Girls (2008), for which she received a nomination for Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, and The Realistic Joneses (2014), for which she received a special award at Drama Desk Awards.

Early life

Tomei was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Patricia Adelaide "Addie" Tomei (maiden name, Bianchi), an English teacher, and Gary A. Tomei, a trial lawyer.[3][4] She has a younger brother, actor Adam Tomei, and was partly raised by her paternal grandparents.[5] Tomei's parents are both of Italian descent: her father is the son of Romeo Robert Tomei, of Tuscan origin from Lucca, and Rita Calvosa, of south Italian origin; while her mother is the daughter of Armando Bianchi, of Tuscan origin, and Maria D'Ignoti, of Sicilian origin.[6][7]

Tomei grew up in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn.[8] While there, she became captivated by the Broadway shows to which her theater-loving parents took her and was drawn to acting as a career. At Andries Hudde Junior High School, she played Hedy LaRue in a school production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. After graduating from Edward R. Murrow High School in 1982, she attended Boston University for a year.[5]

Career

Early career

Tomei followed up As the World Turns in 1986 with a role on the sitcom A Different World as Maggie Lauten during the first season. Her film debut was a minor role in the 1984 comedy film The Flamingo Kid, in which she played Mandy, a waitress. She only had one line in the entire film. During this phase, she made her stage debut in 1987 at the age of 22 with the off-Broadway play Daughters, in which she played Cetta. The role earned her rave reviews and the Theatre World Award for outstanding debut on stage.

Breakthrough

A photo of a brown-haired woman wearing a white dress.
Tomei at the 81st Academy Awards where she received her third nomination for The Wrestler

Following several small films, Tomei came to international prominence with her comedic performance in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny,[9] for which she received critical praise. Critic Vincent Canby wrote, "Ms. Tomei gives every indication of being a fine comedian, whether towering over Mr. Pesci and trying to look small, or arguing about a leaky faucet in terms that demonstrate her knowledge of plumbing. Mona Lisa is also a first-rate auto mechanic, which comes in handy in the untying of the knotted story."[10] For her performance, Tomei was named Best Supporting Actress at the 1993 Academy Awards, prevailing over Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, Vanessa Redgrave and Judy Davis. American film critic Rex Reed created controversy (and a minor Hollywood myth)[11][12][13] when he suggested that Jack Palance had announced the wrong name after opening the envelope.[14][15] While this allegation was repeatedly disproved[16][17] – even the Academy officially denied it[18] – Tomei called the story "extremely hurtful." A Price Waterhouse accountant explained that if such an event had occurred, "we have an agreement with the Academy that one of us would step on stage, introduce ourselves, and say the presenter misspoke."[19]

After her Oscar win, Tomei appeared as silent film star Mabel Normand in the film Chaplin, with her then-boyfriend Robert Downey Jr. playing the title character. The following year she starred in the romantic drama Untamed Heart with Christian Slater, for which they won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss. Tomei had won the previous year for Best Breakthrough Performance for My Cousin Vinny. The following year Tomei appeared alongside Downey again in the romantic comedy Only You. She then appeared in Nick Cassavetes's Unhook the Stars. Of Tomei's performance, The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Tomei is equally fine as Mildred's younger, hot-tempered neighbor, whose raw working-class feistiness and bluntly profane vocabulary initially repel the genteel older woman."[20] She received her first Screen Actor's Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Female Supporting Actor for her performance. In 1998, she received an American Comedy Award nomination for Funniest Supporting Actress for Tamara Jenkins's cult film Slums of Beverly Hills. The independent film was well received by critics and the public.[21] The New York Times writes, "Jenkins makes the most of an especially ingratiating cast, with Ms. Tomei very charming and funny as Rita"[22] while another critic states Tomei is "spunky and sexy... more subdued than she usually is."[23] Tomei spent several years away from high-profile roles and major motion pictures in the late 1990s, before rising again to prominence in the early 2000s.[24]

During the 1990s, Tomei made several television appearances. In 1996, she made a guest appearance on the sitcom Seinfeld, playing herself in the two-part episode "The Cadillac". In the episode, George Constanza attempts to get a date with her through a friend of Elaine Benes. She also made an appearance on The Simpsons as movie star Sara Sloane, who falls in love with Ned Flanders. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Mohr wrote in his book Gasping for Airtime that, as guest host in October 1994, Tomei insisted that a proposed sketch, "Good Morning Brooklyn," not be used because she did not like the idea of being stereotyped; that stand displeased the writers and performers, given the show's penchant for satirizing celebrities.[25] Tomei did however, parody her role from My Cousin Vinny, which had considerable Brooklyn influence, in a skit (out of several recurring) spoofing the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Tomei appeared in the 2000 film What Women Want, which was a commercial success, and had a supporting role in the romantic comedy Someone Like You. In 2001, Tomei appeared in Todd Field's Best Picture nominee In the Bedroom, earning several awards including a ShoWest Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2002. Variety wrote, "Tomei is winning in what is surely her most naturalistic and unaffected performance,"[26] while The New York Times writer Stephen Holden exclaimed, "Ms. Tomei's ruined, sorrowful Natalie is easily her finest screen role."[27] In the Bedroom earned Tomei a second Academy Award nomination and her first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Tomei also shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. In 2002 she appeared in the Bollywood-inspired film The Guru and voiced the role of Bree Blackburn, the main antagonist in the animated feature film The Wild Thornberrys Movie.

Tomei at the Inauguration of Barack Obama, January 2009

In 2003, Tomei appeared in one of her biggest commercial hits, Anger Management. The following year, she appeared in the film Alfie based on the 1966 British film of the same name. In 2005, she was featured in an ad campaign for Hanes with the slogan "Look who we've got our Hanes on now", featuring various other celebrities including Michael Jordan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Matthew Perry. In 2006, Tomei had a recurring role on Rescue Me, playing Johnny Gavin's ex-wife Angie. She won a Gracie Allen Award for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in the four episodes she appeared in. The following year, she appeared in the comedy Wild Hogs. The film was the 13th highest-grossing movie of 2007 ($168,273,550 domestic box office). She also starred in the Sidney Lumet-directed Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. The film was released to critical acclaim.

In 2008, Tomei played Cassidy/Pam, a struggling stripper, in the Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler. She appeared in several nude dance numbers in the film. On working with Tomei, Aronofsky said, "This role shows how courageous and brave Marisa is. And ultimately she's really sexy. We knew nudity was a big part of the picture, and she wanted to be that exposed and vulnerable."[28] Numerous critics heralded this performance as a standout in her career. The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Tomei delivers one of her most arresting performances, again without any trace of vanity."[29] Ty Burr of The Boston Globe wrote, "Tomei gives a brave and scrupulously honest performance, one that's most naked when Pam has her clothes on."[30] Variety exclaimed, "Tomei is in top, emotionally forthright form as she charts a life passage similar to Ram's."[31] For her performance she was nominated for her first BAFTA, second Golden Globe and third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2009, Tomei recorded the role of Mary Magdalene in Thomas Nelson's audio Bible production The Word of Promise.[32] Tomei was No. 18 on the 2009 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Females in the world".

In 2010, Tomei appeared in two films: a comedy-drama, Cyrus and a comedy, Grown Ups.[citation needed] Tomei hosted the 2011 Scientific and Technical Awards, which was followed by an appearance at the 83rd Academy Awards.[33] She starred in the mystery suspense film The Lincoln Lawyer. She also appeared in Salvation Boulevard, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Tomei's other 2011 films included Crazy, Stupid, Love. and the George Clooney film The Ides of March. She is in talks to star in the indie comedy Married and Cheating.[34] In an interview, Lady Gaga stated that she would want Tomei to portray her in a film about the singer. Tomei responded, "I was thrilled when I heard. I love her. I love her music. And she's an awesome businesswoman. So I was so touched, really. I think it's incredible that she likes my work and that she'd think of me."[35]

Tomei was featured in the second episode of the third season of NBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, on February 10, 2012. In the episode, she traveled to Tuscany and to the island of Elba to uncover the truth about the 100-year-old murder of her great-grandfather, Francesco Leopoldo Bianchi.[36]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1984 The Flamingo Kid Mandy
1984 The Toxic Avenger Health Club girl (uncredited)[37]
1986 Playing for Keeps Tracy
1991 Oscar Lisa Provolone
1991 Zandalee Remy
1992 My Cousin Vinny Mona Lisa Vito
1992 Equinox Rosie Rivers
1992 Chaplin Mabel Normand
1993 Untamed Heart Caroline
1994 Only You Faith Corvatch
1994 The Paper Martha Hacket
1995 The Perez Family Dorita Evita Perez
1995 Four Rooms Margaret
1996 Unhook the Stars Monica Warren
1997 A Brother's Kiss Missy
1997 Welcome to Sarajevo Nina
1998 Slums of Beverly Hills Rita Abromowitz
2000 Happy Accidents Ruby Weaver
2000 The Watcher Dr. Polly Beilman
2000 What Women Want Lola
2000 King of the Jungle Det. Costello
2000 Dirk and Betty Paris
2001 In the Bedroom Natalie Strout
2001 Someone Like You Liz
2002 The Wild Thornberrys Movie Bree Blackburn (voice role)
2002 Just a Kiss Paula
2002 The Guru Lexi
2003 Anger Management Linda
2004 Alfie Julie
2005 Loverboy Sybil
2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Meredith Morrison
2005 Factotum Laura
2006 Danika Danika
2007 Grace Is Gone Woman at Pool
2007 Wild Hogs Maggie
2007 Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Gina Hanson
2008 War, Inc. Natalie Hegalhuzen
2008 The Wrestler Cassidy / Pam
2010 Cyrus Molly
2010 Grown Ups Spectator (cameo)
2011 The Lincoln Lawyer Margaret McPherson
2011 Salvation Boulevard Honey Foster
2011 Crazy, Stupid, Love Kate
2011 The Ides of March Ida Horowicz
2012 Inescapable Fatima
2012 Parental Guidance Alice
2014 Love Is Strange Kate
2014 The Rewrite Holly Carpenter
2014 Loitering with Intent Gigi
2015 Spare Parts Gwen
2015 Trainwreck The Dog Owner
2015 Love the Coopers Emma
2015 The Big Short Cynthia Baum
2016 Captain America: Civil War May Parker

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983–85 As the World Turns Marcy Thompson
1987 ABC Afterschool Special Noelle Crandall Episode: "Supermom's Daughter"
1987 Leg Work Donna Ricci Episode: "Pilot"
1987 A Different World Maggie Lauten 21 episodes
1994 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Marisa Tomei/Bonnie Raitt"
1996 Seinfeld Herself Episode: "The Cadillac"
1998 Since You've Been Gone Tori Uncredited[citation needed]
1998 My Own Country Mattie Vines Movie
1998 Only Love Elvie
2003 The Simpsons Sara Sloane (voice) Episode: "A Star Is Born Again"
2006 Rescue Me Angie Gavin 4 episodes
2007 The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud Penelope Cloud Movie
2010 Core and Curves Herself Exercise video
2012 Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Ed Helms Wears A Grey Shirt & Brown Boots"
2015 Empire Mimi Whiteman 5 episodes

Stage

  • 1986: Daughters as Cetta
  • 1987: Beirut as Blue
  • 1988: What The Butler Saw as Geraldine Barclay
  • 1992: The Comedy of Errors as Adriana
  • 1994: Slavs! as Katherine Serafima Gleb
  • 1996: Dark Rapture as Julie
  • 1996: Demonology as Gina
  • 1998: Wait Until Dark as Susy Hendrix
  • 2003: Salomé as Salome
  • 2008: Top Girls as Isabella Bird/Joyce/Mrs. Kidd
  • 2011: Marie and Bruce as Marie
  • 2014: The Realistic Joneses as Pony Jones

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
1992 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress My Cousin Vinny Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1993 MTV Movie Awards MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Christian Slater) Untamed Heart Won
1996 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Unhook the Stars Nominated
1998 Teen Choice Awards Funniest Scene (shared with Natasha Lyonne) Slums of Beverly Hills Nominated
2000 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy What Women Want Nominated
2001 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress In The Bedroom Nominated
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2006 Gracie Allen Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress Rescue Me Won
2007 Gotham Award Gotham Award for Best Cast Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Won
Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Female Nominated
2008 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress The Wrestler Nominated
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress (3rd place) Won
Detroit Film Critics Society Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Won
Hollywood Film Festival Supporting Actress of the Year[citation needed] Won
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] Won
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] Won
Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Won
BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Nominated
Houston Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Top Girls Nominated
2010 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Cyrus Nominated
2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Big Short Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Marisa Tomei Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. ^ "Marisa Tomei". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  3. ^ "Marisa Tomei Biography". Tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  4. ^ Stated on Who Do You Think You Are?, February 10, 2012
  5. ^ a b "Maris Tomei Biography. Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo!. December 4, 1964. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  6. ^ Euvino, Gabrielle. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Italian History and Culture. Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864234-1.
  7. ^ "Film professor researches how female stardom links to American views on immigration and ethnicity". University of North Texas. October 25, 2001.
  8. ^ Collins, Glenn. "Actress's Challenge in Change of Pace and Diction", The New York Times, August 10, 1992. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  9. ^ "UP AND COMING: Marisa Tomei; She's Straight Out of Brooklyn". The New York Times. March 22, 1992. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  10. ^ Canby, Vincent (March 13, 1992). "My Cousin Vinny (1992) Review". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  11. ^ Roger Ebert Movie Answer Man: the questions that will not die, August 27, 2000
  12. ^ Diane Negra, Off-white Hollywood: American culture and ethnic female stardom Routledge, 2001, ISBN 0-415-21678-8, p. 160
  13. ^ Richard Roeper Urban Legends: The Truth Behind All Those Deliciously Entertaining Myths That Are Absolutely, Positively, 100% Not True, Career Press, 2000,ISBN 1-56414-418-6, p. 127
  14. ^ Truth and rumors: the reality behind TV's most famous myths. Google. December 2007. ISBN 978-0-275-99247-7. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  15. ^ Roger Ebert, Movie Answer Man, June 15, 1997
  16. ^ "Marisa Tomei Awarded Oscar by Mistake?". snopes.com. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  17. ^ "Marisa Tomei on 'The Wrestler' and that weird, pesky rumor that she didn't really win the Oscar for 'Vinny'". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  18. ^ Roger Ebert, Movie Answer Man
  19. ^ Young, Josh (March 6, 2002). "Return Tomei". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  20. ^ Holden, Stephen The New York Times November 1, 1996 Unhook the Stars (1996) Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  21. ^ Rotten Tomatoes Slums of Beverly Hills review
  22. ^ Maslin, Janet (August 14, 1998). "The Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  23. ^ Levy, Emanuel (May 24, 1998). "Slums of Beverly Hills". Variety. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  24. ^ Richard Schickel, The Appeal of Her Zeal, Time, May 18, 2002
  25. ^ Mohr, Jay (June 9, 2004). Gasping For Airtime: Two Years In the Trenches of Saturday Night Live. Hyperion. ISBN 1-4013-0006-5.
  26. ^ McCarthy, Todd (January 22, 2001). "In the Bedroom". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  27. ^ Holden, Stephen (November 23, 2001). "In the Bedroom (2001)". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2001.
  28. ^ Freydkin, Donna (December 21, 2008). "Marisa Tomei: A no-holds-barred acting job in 'Wrestler'". USA Today. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  29. ^ Farber, Stephen (September 5, 2008). "Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  30. ^ Burr, Ty The Boston Globe December 25, 2008 The Wrestler film review Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  31. ^ McCarthy, Todd September 5, 2008 Variety The Wrestler Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  32. ^ "BELIEFS : Stars lined up for elaborate audio Bible : Michael York, Jason Alexander and many others gave voice to a 79-CD reading of Old and New Testaments".
  33. ^ Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Press Release February 12, 2011 Marisa Tomei to Host Academy's Sci-Tech Awards Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  34. ^ "Marisa Tomei and Sarah Jessica Parker Are 'Married and Cheating'". First Showing. March 13, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  35. ^ "There's no questioning Tomei's acting range". The Charlotte Observer. March 17, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  36. ^ "First look at Marisa Tomei on NBC's Who Do You Think You Are(VIDEO)". Unreality TV. February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  37. ^ "(official studio site)". ToxicAvenger. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
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