Is good friends with Mariska Hargitay since their time on ER together.
Maria has hiked and camped all over the world and loves the outdoors.
She has written and directed several plays
Maria has visited Tanzania and Botswana gathering material for a book she plans to write about children around the world.
Best friends with Carrie-Ann Moss. Maria says that they “never talk about the business” (their work) together.
Maria is the godmother of Carrie-Ann’s first son and Carrie-Ann is the godmother of Maria’s son Jack.
Practices yoga and ballet, although she hates exercising and dieting.
Has a tattoo of the logo for the Philadelphia Eagles, and her Father got one the same day.
Maria has worked as a bartender, as well as a dog walker and a house cleaner.
Graduated with a political science degree in 1989
Co-founded Harlem’s Dreamyard Drama Project in 1992 along with actor Tim Lord and writer Jason Duchin.
Maria attended Archbishop John Carroll High School for Girls in Philadelphia. She was a varsity cheerleader while she studied there.
In Flicka, Maria’s character was scripted to pick up a snake for one of her scenes. You would never know it by watching the scene, but the director of the movie said in a DVD commentary that Maria is absolutely terrified of snakes. Allegedly, the actress prepared for this by carrying a rubber snake in her pocket for a while, and when the time came to do the real thing, she was completely natural. She even kissed the live snake, as you can clearly see when you watch the scene!
While starring on ER, Maria appeared once on NBC’s “The More You Know” public service announcement. The topic she addressed was teen pregnancy.
Maria’s height is 5’5″ (1.65 m).
Maria was a bridesmaid at Andrea Bendewald’s wedding in 2001, the same one at which Jennifer Aniston was the matron of honor.
In an April 2004 interview conducted by close friend Carrie-Anne Moss, Maria revealed that her best friend when she was a student at Villanova University was an Augustinian priest named Father Ray Jackson.
It is a popular misconception that Maria practices Muay Thai (lethal) kickboxing. In a February 12, 2006 interview in the Santa Barbara Independent, Maria states that the rumor was sparked when she did some training in 1996 for the short-lived television series Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Was invited to join AMPAS in 2006.
Was in New York City on September 11th 2001, and volunteered to help the victims.
Loves to read fashion magazines on planes, and says she is one of those annoying people who loudly rips out pages from them!
One of her favourite things to do is having craft nights, and she and her best friend Carrie Ann Moss love makign scrapbooks, although Maria admits that Carrie is better at it than her!
She and her dad got tattoos together – Maria got a celtic symbol and he got an eagle.
Some of the women she most admires are Marlene Dietrich, Anais Nin and Amelia Earheart.
Supported Obama in the Presidential Race in 2008.
Loves karoke.
Has visited Kosovo, India and China.
Auditioned for the role of Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2004). She knew the producers wanted Charlize Theron for the role though, and was happy with that and thought Charlize did a great job.
Reportedly has size 9 shoes.
Had a home birth.
Director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) would like to work with Maria.
Maria took surfing lessons with her son.
Enjoys photography, pottery and sculpting.
Says she has written a novel, and “a bit of this screenplay and a bit of that screenplay” but doesn’t think she is brave enough to put it out into the world!
Worked in her family’s pizzeria in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, when she was a teenager.
Maria likes to do as little preparation for her film roles as possible. She says she’s never been a research person.