Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei (pronounced /məˈrɪsə toʊˈmeɪ/; born December 4, 1964) is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987. After appearing in a few films, her breakthrough came in 1992 with the comedy My Cousin Vinny, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Following other films, Tomei appeared in the cult film Slums of Beverly Hills in 1998.
Appearing in many films in the past fifteen years, her most commercially successful films to date are What Women Want (2000), Anger Management (2003), and Wild Hogs (2007). She received critical acclaim for her performances in Unhook the Stars (1996), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) and received subsequent Academy Award nominations for her performances in In the Bedroom (2001) and The Wrestler (2008).

Marisa Tomei



Marisa Tomei Interview for "The Wrestler"

MARISA TOMEI BARES ALL IN FIRST DAY OF THE WRESTLER

George Costanza falls foul of Marisa Tomeis

Marisa Tomei is obsessed with hula hoops


Marisa Tomei Core Curves


Interview with Marisa Tomei for Cyrus






Life and career

[edit]1964–83: Early life and career beginnings
Tomei, an Italian American,[3][4] was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Patricia "Addie," an English teacher, and Gary A. Tomei, a trial lawyer.[5] She has a younger brother, actor Adam Tomei, and was partly raised by her paternal grandparents, Rita and Romeo Tomei.[6] Tomei grew up in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn.[7] While there, she became captivated by the Broadway shows that her theater-loving parents took her to and became drawn to acting as a career. At Andries Hudde Junior High School, she played the part of Hedy LaRue in a school production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School in 1982 and she attended Boston University for a year.[6]
[edit]1984–2002: Breakthrough and critical success
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 in a minor role in the 1984 comedy film The Flamingo Kid, with Matt Dillon. Following several small films, her breakthrough comedic performance[8] came in My Cousin Vinny (1992), where she received critical praise for her performance. 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."[9] 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)[10][11][12] when he suggested that Jack Palance had announced the wrong name after opening the envelope.[13][14] While this allegation was repeatedly disproved[15][16] – even the Academy officially denied it[17] – 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."[18]
After her Oscar win, Tomei appeared as silent film star Mabel Normand in the film Chaplin, with her then-boyfriend Robert Downey Jr. as the title character. The following year she starred in the romantic drama Untamed Heart with Christian Slater where 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 opposite Gena Rowlands. 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."[19] 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, in which she appeared alongside Natasha Lyonne and Alan Arkin. The independent film was well received by critics and the public.[20] The New York Times writes, "Jenkins makes the most of an especially ingratiating cast, with Ms. Tomei very charming and funny as Rita"[21] while another critic states Tomei is "spunky and sexy, . . . more subdued than she usually is."[22] 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.[23] Tomei appeared in the 2000 film What Women Want with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, which was a commercial success, and had a supporting role in the romantic comedy Someone Like You with Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd.
In 2001, Tomei appeared in Todd Field's Best Picture nominee In the Bedroom opposite Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson, 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,"[24] while The New York Times writer Stephen Holden exclaimed, "Ms. Tomei's ruined, sorrowful Natalie is easily her finest screen role."[25] 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.
During the latter part of 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 attempts to get a date with Tomei through a friend of Elaine's. 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 about another actress not be used because she did not like the idea of making fun of her; that stand displeased the writers and performers, given the show's penchant for satirizing celebrities.[26]
[edit]2003–present
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, opposite Jude Law. 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, Damon Wayans, Matthew Perry and, on Spanish-language advertising, Aracely Arambula and Pablo Montero. 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 alongside John Travolta, Tim Allen, William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence. 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 opposite co-stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke. The film was released to critical acclaim.


Tomei at the 81st Academy Awards in February 2009
In 2008, Tomei played Cassidy/Pam, a struggling stripper in the Darren Aronofsky independent film The Wrestler opposite Mickey Rourke. She appeared in several nude scenes performing dance numbers in the film, on working with Tomei, director 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."[27] Numerous critics heralded this performance as a standout in her career, The Hollywood Reporter states, "Tomei delivers one of her most arresting performances, again without any trace of vanity."[28] Ty Burr of The Boston Globe writes, "Tomei gives a brave and scrupulously honest performance, one that's most naked when Pam has her clothes on."[29] Variety exclaimed, "Tomei is in top, emotionally forthright form as she charts a life passage similar to Ram's."[30] For her performance she was nominated for her first BAFTA, second Golden Globe and third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Tomei was included at #18 on the FHM annual list of "100 Sexiest Females in the world" in 2009.[31] The following year she appeared in two films, the first a comedy-drama, Cyrus and a cameo in the comedy film, Grown Ups. Tomei hosted the 2011 Scientific and Technical Awards, which was followed by an appearance at the 83rd Academy Awards.[32] Recently, she starred alongside Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe in the mystery suspense film, The Lincoln Lawyer, though the film was met with mixed reviews. The Hollywood Reporter states that Tomei's character was "brutally underused".[33] She also appeared in Salvation Boulevard with Jennifer Connelly, Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Tomei's upcoming films include, Crazy, Stupid, Love with Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, and the George Clooney film, The Ides of March with Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti. She is in talks to star alongside Sarah Jessica Parker 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 saying, "I was thrilled when I heard. I love her. I love her music. And she's a smart 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]
[edit]Theatre
Tomei has also done substantial work in the theater, including taking lead roles on Broadway in Wait Until Dark (1998) and Oscar Wilde's Salomé (2003) alongside Al Pacino and Dianne Wiest as well as many Off-Broadway plays.
[edit]Personal life
In the early 1990s, Tomei dated Robert Downey, Jr. (her co-star in Chaplin and Only You).[36] In 1999, she dated actor Dana Ashbrook[36][37] and had a relationship with playwright Frank Pugliese, living with him in Greenwich Village.[36][38]
Tomei was the recipient of an honorary degree from Boston University.[39]
She has been dating actor Logan Marshall-Green.[40]
[edit]Awards

[edit]Academy Award
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Wins
1992: My Cousin Vinny
Nominations
2001: In the Bedroom
2008: The Wrestler
[edit]Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Flamingo Kid Mandy
1984 The Toxic Avenger Health Club Girl uncredited[41]
1986 Playing for Keeps Tracy
1991 Oscar Lisa Provolone Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
1991 Zandalee Remy
1992 My Cousin Vinny Mona Lisa Vito Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress (also for Chaplin)
MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
1992 Equinox Rosie Rivers
1992 Chaplin Mabel Normand Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress (also for My Cousin Vinny)
1993 Untamed Heart Caroline MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Christian Slater)
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 Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Supporting Female Actor - Motion Picture
1997 A Brother's Kiss Missy
1997 Welcome to Sarajevo Nina
1998 Slums of Beverly Hills Rita Abromowitz American Comedy Awards for Funniest Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated—Teen Choice Award — Film — Funniest Scene (shared with Natasha Lyonne)
1998 My Own Country Mattie Vines TV movie
1998 Since You've Been Gone Tori TV movie
uncredited
1998 Only Love Elvie TV movie
2000 Happy Accidents Ruby Weaver
2000 The Watcher Dr. Polly Beilman
2000 What Women Want Lola Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards — Favorite Supporting Actress — Comedy/Romance
2000 King of the Jungle Det. Costello
2000 Dirk and Betty Paris
2001 In the Bedroom Natalie Strout Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast - Motion Picture
2001 Someone Like You Liz
2001 Jenifer Nina Capelli TV movie
2002 The Wild Thornberrys Movie Bree Blackburn voice
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 Gotham Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2007 The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud Penelope Cloud TV movie
2008 War, Inc. Natalie Hegalhuzen
2008 The Wrestler Cassidy/Pam Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
International Cinephile Society for Best Supporting Actress
Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle for Best Supporting Actress
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
2010 Cyrus Molly Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2010 Grown Ups Spectator Cameo
2011 The Lincoln Lawyer Margaret McPherson
2011 Salvation Boulevard Honey Foster post-production
2011 Crazy, Stupid, Love Kate post-production
2011 The Ides of March Ida Horowicz Filming
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1983–1985 As the World Turns Marcy Thompson
1987 ABC Afterschool Special Noelle Crandall 1 episode: "Supermom's Daughter"
1987 Leg Work Donna Ricci 1 episode: "Pilot"
1987 A Different World Maggie Lauten 21 episodes
1996 Seinfeld Herself 1 episode: "The Cadillac"
2003 The Simpsons Sara Sloane Voice
1 episode: "A Star Is Born Again"
2006 Rescue Me Angie Gavin 4 episodes
Gracie Allen Awards — Outstanding Supporting Actress — Drama Series

References from Wikipedia.com