Maria Elena Bello was born on April 18, 1967, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Her father, Joe Bello, is of Italian-American descent, and her mother, Marjorie Beck, is of Polish-American heritage. She was raised in a Catholic family. Bello graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, in 1985. She attended Villanova University, majoring in political science. She initially planned to become a lawyer but became involved in theater during her time at Villanova, graduating in 1989.
After graduating from Villanova, Bello moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. She appeared in off-Broadway productions and television commercials. She gained early television experience with roles in episodes of shows such as “Due South,” “Nowhere Man,” and “ER.”
Bello’s breakthrough role came in 1996 when she was cast as Mrs. Smith in the television series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” While the show was short-lived, it increased her visibility. Her film career began to gain momentum in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She received critical acclaim for her performance in “The Cooler” (2003), earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to secure prominent roles in films across various genres.