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Annabella Sciorra

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Annabella Sciorra
Sciorra in 2008
Born
Annabella Gloria Philomena Sciorra

(1960-03-29) March 29, 1960 (age 64)[1]
New York City, New York, U.S.[a]
Alma materHB Studio
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
OccupationActress
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Joe Petruzzi
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 1993)​

Annabella Gloria Sciorra (/ˈʃɔːrə/ SHOR-ə, Italian: [ˈʃɔrra]; born March 29, 1960) is an American actress. She came to prominence with her film debut in True Love (1989) and worked steadily throughout the 1990s in films such as Jungle Fever (1991), The Hard Way (1991), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), The Addiction (1995), Cop Land (1997), and What Dreams May Come (1998). She received an Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Gloria Trillo on The Sopranos (2001–2004), appeared as Detective Carolyn Barek on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2005–2006), and had recurring roles on GLOW (2018), Truth Be Told (2019–2020), and Tulsa King (2022). Her stage credits include The Motherfucker with the Hat (Broadway, 2011).

Sciorra was regarded as one of the key figures of the #MeToo movement after speaking out against Harvey Weinstein and subsequently testifying at his sexual assault trial.[4]

Early life

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Sciorra was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to Italian immigrant parents.[3] Her mother was a fashion stylist from Formia, Lazio, and her father a veterinarian from Carunchio, Abruzzo.[5][6] Sciorra studied dance as a child, and later took drama lessons at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[7]

Career

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1989–1990: Film debut and early roles

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After making her professional debut in 1988 with a small part in the television miniseries The Fortunate Pilgrim, Sciorra landed her first major film role starring as Donna in True Love (1989), a romantic comedy-drama that won the Grand Jury Prize at that year's Sundance Festival.[8] Her performance was praised by critics, with Janet Maslin of The New York Times commenting, "Ms. Sciorra, with her gentle beauty and hard-as-nails negotiating style, perfectly captures the mood of the film, and makes Donna fully and touchingly drawn".[9] The part earned Sciorra a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead the following year.[10] Key roles in Internal Affairs, Cadillac Man, and the acclaimed drama Reversal of Fortune (all 1990) came next, with the latter receiving three Oscar nominations.[11]

1991–2000: Critical acclaim and box office successes

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In 1991, after co-starring in buddy cop comedy The Hard Way, Sciorra garnered widespread attention with her portrayal of Angie Tucci in the acclaimed Spike Lee drama Jungle Fever,[12] which was shortlisted for the Palme d'Or at that year's Cannes Film Festival.[13] In his review for the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan wrote that Sciorra was "possessed of considerable presence, assurance and vulnerability".[14] Meanwhile, Vincent Canby of The New York Times commented:

In a cast of equals, Ms. Sciorra may be just a little more equal than everyone else. She shines. She glows. Her Angie is a delight, a woman of guts and humor and enormous resilience.[15]

The following year, Sciorra headlined Curtis Hanson's hit psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (1992), which held the top position at the U.S. box office for four weeks.[16] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly felt that, with her portrayal of Claire Bartel, Sciorrra "brings her eye-of-the-storm serenity to the role of a passionately ordinary middle-class woman", giving an "accomplished performance",[17] while Variety said in their review, "A totally deglamorized Sciorra becomes unglued subtly and slowly, eliciting sympathy without begging for it".[18] In subsequent years, the film has been highlighted as one of the quintessential examples of 1990s genre filmmaking.[19][20]

Sciorra continued to work steadily throughout the decade. Film parts included romantic leads in The Night We Never Met, neo-noir crime thriller Romeo Is Bleeding, and romantic comedy Mr. Wonderful (all 1993); The Addiction (1995), her first of several projects with cult filmmaker Abel Ferrara; James Mangold's critically acclaimed, financially successful Cop Land (1997);[21][22] and the fantasy drama What Dreams May Come (1998). Film critic Roger Ebert described her portrayal of Annie Nielsen in the latter as "heartbreakingly effective".[23]

2001–present: The Sopranos and subsequent television work

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In 2001, Sciorra was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress for her "electric" portrayal of Gloria Trillo on HBO's The Sopranos,[24] a part described as "career changing" by Entertainment Weekly,[25] which she played intermittently until 2004. Next, she co-starred in the Sidney Lumet-directed Find Me Guilty (2006). Based on the true story of the longest Mafia trial in American history, the film was described as "gripping" by Stephen Holden of The New York Times, who also called Sciorra's performance "excellent".[26]

Subsequent credits included main roles in the CBS courtroom drama series Queens Supreme (2003) and the Fox medical drama Mental (2009), guest parts on shows such as The L Word, ER (both 2007), The Good Wife (2012), Blue Bloods, and CSI (both 2013), and recurring roles on Law & Order: Criminal Intent—as Detective Carolyn Barek (2005–2006)—and GLOW, where she played Rosalie Biagi (2018).

In 2018, Sciorra portrayed Rosalie Carbone on the second season of Netflix's Luke Cage. Executive producer Cheo Hodari Coker said of her casting, "I've been a huge fan of [Sciorra] since Jungle Fever, and [she's] no joke as Rosalie Carbone. You haven't seen her this gangster since ... The Sopranos. I'm thrilled her introduction to the Marvel Universe will be [this show]".[27][28] Later that year, she reprised the part of Carbone for two episodes of Netflix's Daredevil.[29]

Between 2019 and 2020, Sciorra played Erin Buhrman in seven episodes of the Apple TV+ legal drama Truth Be Told. She has since appeared in recurring roles on NBC's New Amsterdam (2021), the MGM+ crime series Godfather of Harlem (2021), CBS drama Blue Bloods (2021–2022), and the Paramount+ series Tulsa King (2022).

Personal life

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Sciorra was married to actor Joe Petruzzi from 1989 to 1993. In 2004, she began a relationship with Bobby Cannavale which lasted for three years; the relationship ended in 2007.[30]

In October 2017, Sciorra leveled allegations of rape against the film producer Harvey Weinstein.[31][32] In an article published by The New Yorker,[33] Sciorra alleged that Weinstein raped her after he forced his way into her apartment in 1993, then over a number of years repeatedly harassed her.[12][31][34][35] Sciorra was the key witness addressing the predatory sexual assault charges during Weinstein's trial in 2020, leading to his conviction.[36]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 True Love Donna
1990 Internal Affairs Heather Peck
Cadillac Man Donna
Reversal of Fortune Sarah
1991 The Hard Way Susan
Jungle Fever Angie Tucci
1992 The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Claire Bartel
Whispers in the Dark Ann Hecker
1993 The Night We Never Met Ellen Holder
Romeo Is Bleeding Natalie Grimaldi
Mr. Wonderful Leonora
1995 The Addiction Casanova
The Cure Linda
1996 The Innocent Sleep Billie Hayman
Underworld Dr. Leah
The Funeral Jean
1997 Little City Nina
Destination Anywhere: The Film Dorothy
Cop Land Liz Randone
Mr. Jealousy Ramona Ray
Highball Molly
1998 New Rose Hotel Madame Rosa
What Dreams May Come Annie Collins-Nielsen
2000 Above Suspicion Lisa Stockton
King of the Jungle Mermaid
Once in the Life Maxine
2001 Sunday Betibù
Sam the Man Cass
2004 Chasing Liberty Cynthia Morales
American Crime Jane Berger
2005 12 and Holding Carla Chuang
2006 Find Me Guilty Bella DiNorscio
Marvelous Lara
2012 A Green Story Chloe
2013 The Maid's Room Mrs. Crawford
2014 Don Peyote Giulietta
Friends and Romans Angela DeMaio
Wishin' and Hopin' Ma
2015 Stranger in the House Mrs. Menabar
Alto Sofia Del Vecchio
2016 Back in the Day Mary
2019 The Kitchen Maria Coretti
2021 God the Worm Samantha Original title: Before I Go[37]
2024 Fresh Kills Christine [38]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Fortunate Pilgrim Octavia Main cast (Episodes 1, 2, 3)
1991 Prison Stories: Women on the Inside Nicole TV movie
1995 Favorite Deadly Sins Brenda TV movie
1997 Asteroid Lily McKee TV movie
2001 Touched by an Angel Dr. Sarah Conover Season 7 Episode 22: "The Face of God"
Jenifer Meredith Estess TV movie
2001–2004 The Sopranos Gloria Trillo (1) Season 3 Episode 8: "He Is Risen" (2001)
(2) Season 3 Episode 9: "The Telltale Moozadell" (2001)
(3) Season 3 Episode 11: "Pine Barrens" (2001)
(4) Season 3 Episode 12: "Amour Fou" (2001)
(5) Season 4 Episode 6: "Everybody Hurts" (2002)
(6) Season 4 Episode 11: "Calling All Cars" (2002)
(7) Season 5 Episode 11: "The Test Dream" (2004)
2003 Queens Supreme Judge Kim Vicidomini Main cast (13 episodes)
2004 The Handler Season 1 Episode 16: "The Big Fall"
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel Jeanette Maier TV movie
Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story Connie Volkos TV movie
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Maggie Dettweiler Season 1 Episode 1: "The Abominable Showman"
2005–2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Detective Carolyn Barek Main cast (Season 5) (12 episodes)
2007 The L Word Kate Arden (1) Season 4 Episode 10: "Little Boy Blue"
(2) Season 4 Episode 11: "Literary License to Kill"
(3) Season 4 Episode 12: "Long Time Coming"
ER Diana Moore (1) Season 13 Episode 18: "Photographs and Memories"
(2) Season 13 Episode 20: "Lights Out"
2009 Mental Nora Skoff Main cast (12 episodes)
2010 The Whole Truth Madeline Landon Season 1 Episode 5: "When Cougars Attack"
2012 The Good Wife Lesli Rand Season 4 Episode 5: "Waiting for Knock"
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nancy Brass (1) Season 13 Episode 22: "Skin in the Game"
(2) Season 14 Episode 1: "The Devil and D.B. Russell"
2013-2024 Blue Bloods (1) Dr. Grace Meherin
(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Faith Marconi 		(1) Season 3 Episode 11: "Front Page News" (2013)
(2) Season 11 Episode 8: "More Than Meets the Eye" (2021)
(3) Season 11 Episode 15: "The End" (2021)
(4) Season 12 Episode 16: "Guilt" (2022)
(5) Season 13 Episode 13: "Past History" (2023)
(6) Season 14 Episode 6: "Shadowland" (2024)
2014 Taxi Brooklyn Jeanette Vandercroix Season 1 Episode 7: "Black Widow"
2017 Bull Assistant District Attorney
Shelly Giordano 		Season 1 Episode 19: "Bring it On"
2018 Luke Cage Rosalie Carbone (1) Season 2 Episode 12: "Can't Front on Me"
(2) Season 2 Episode 13: "They Reminisce Over You"
GLOW Rosalie Biagi (1) Season 2 Episode 8: "The Good Twin"
(2) Season 2 Episode 9: "Rosalie"
(3) Season 2 Episode 10: "Every Potato Has a Receipt"
Daredevil Rosalie Carbone (1) Season 3 Episode 9: "Revelations"
(2) Season 3 Episode 13: "A New Napkin"
2019–2020 Truth Be Told Erin Buhrman (1) Season 1 Episode 1: "Monster" (2019)
(2) Season 1 Episode 2: "Black People in the Neighborhood" (2019)
(3) Season 1 Episode 3: "Even Salt Looks Like Sugar" (2019)
(4) Season 1 Episode 4: "No Cross, No Crown" (2019)
(5) Season 1 Episode 5: "Graveyard Love" (2019)
(6) Season 1 Episode 6: "Not Buried, Planted" (2019)
(7) Season 1 Episode 7: "Live Thru This" (2020)
(8) Season 1 Episode 8: "All That Was Lost" (2020)
2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lieutenant Carolyn Barek Season 22 Episode 7: "Hunt, Trap, Rape, and Release"[39]
New Amsterdam Dr. Romy Lucio (1) Season 3 Episode 9: "Disconnected"
(2) Season 3 Episode 10: "Radical"
Godfather of Harlem Fay Bonanno (1) Season 2 Episode 2: "Sting Like a Bee"
(2) Season 2 Episode 8: "Ten Harlems"
The Blacklist Michaela Belucci Season 9 Episode 4: "The Avenging Angel (No. 49)"
2022 Tulsa King Joanne Manfredi (1) Season 1 Episode 4: "Visitation Place"
(2) Season 1 Episode 5: "Token Joe"
(3) Season 1 Episode 7: "Warr Acres"

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Those the River Keeps Susie Off-Broadway
1999 The Vagina Monologues Performer Off-Broadway
2004 Roar Hala Off-Broadway
2007 Spain Barbara Off-Broadway
2011 The Motherfucker with the Hat[40] Victoria Broadway
2015 A Month in the Country Lizaveta Off-Broadway

Accolades

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Year Association Category Work Result
1990 Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Actress[41] True Love Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead[41] Nominated
2001 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series[42] The Sopranos Nominated
2011 Theatre World Award Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence[43] The Motherfucker with the Hat Won
2020 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Remi Award for Best Actress[41] God the Worm Nominated
2021 Denver Film Festival Career Achievement Award[44] Won

Notes

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  1. ^ Although some sources state that Sciorra was born in Weathersfield, Connecticut,[2] Sciorra herself has stated that she was in fact born in New York City.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Annabella Sciorra". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Annabella Sciorra". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Lovece, Frank (April 15, 2011). "Annabella Sciorra: Brooklyn to Broadway". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "Annabella Sciorra Responds to Weinstein Guilty Verdict After 'Painful but Necessary' Testimony". TheWrap. February 24, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Applebaum, Stephen (December 18, 1998). "Don't cry for me Annabella". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Fusco, Maria Pia (April 30, 2000). "Sciorra: i film di Scorsese rovina di noi italo-americani". La Repubblica. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  7. ^ "Annabella Sciorra biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  8. ^ Levy, Emanuel (May 2, 2006). "True Love (1989): Nancy Savoca's Sundance Fest Winner, Starring Annabella Sciorra and Ron Eldard". EmanuelLevy.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Maslin, Janet (October 20, 1989). "Review/Film; 'True Love,' as It Is in the Italian Bronx". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Annabella Sciorra Signs With CAA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. November 16, 2017.
  11. ^ "The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Morris, Wesley (November 22, 2017). "Who We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Weinstein". The New York Times.
  13. ^ ""Jungle Fever' is spreading". Tampa Bay Times. May 18, 1991. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Turan, Kenneth (June 7, 1991). "Lee's Fury in Control in 'Fever'". Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ Canby, Vincent (June 7, 1991). "'Jungle Fever': Spike Lee's Comedy of Sorrow". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Entertainment Weekly. January 17, 1992. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Variety. December 31, 1991. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "100 essential thrillers: 1990s". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Best Forgotten 1990s Thriller". Screen Rant. September 4, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "Cop Land (1997)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "Cop Land (1997)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  23. ^ "What Dreams May Come". RogerEbert.com. October 2, 1998. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  24. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (August 16, 2018). "'The Sopranos': 10 Best Episodes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Burr, Ty (May 23, 2001). "The Sopranos leaves many plotlines unresolved". Entertainment Weekly.
  26. ^ Holden, Stephen (March 17, 2006). "A Bona Fide Soprano Entertains His Jury". The New York Times.
  27. ^ Petski, Denise (March 15, 2018). "'Marvel's Luke Cage': Annabella Sciorra Joins Season 2 Of Netflix Series". The New York Times.
  28. ^ "Annabella Sciorra Joins 'Marvel's Luke Cage' Season 2". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  29. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 11, 2019). "Annabella Sciorra To Star In 'God The Worm' For Mainstay Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "Annabella Sciorra Splits From Bobby Cannavale". Starpulse.com. June 10, 2008. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  31. ^ a b Farrow, Ronan (October 28, 2017). "Weighing the Costs of Speaking Out About Harvey Weinstein". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  32. ^ "New Harvey Weinstein sexual assault accusations emerge". Fox News. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  33. ^ "Weighing the Costs of Speaking Out About Harvey Weinstein". The New Yorker. October 27, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  34. ^ Ransom, Joe (August 26, 2019). "Annabella Sciorra Will Testify Against Harvey Weinstein About Alleged Rape". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  35. ^ Pilkington, Ed (January 23, 2020). "Sopranos actor re-enacts alleged rape at Weinstein trial: 'I was trying to fight'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  36. ^ Wheeler, André; Gabbatt, Adam; Pilkington, Ed; Levin, Sam (February 25, 2020). "Harvey Weinstein taken into custody after landmark #MeToo trial – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved February 25, 2020 – via www.theguardian.com.
  37. ^ "Vision Films to Release Dark Humor Self-Discovery Film "Before I Go" Starring Annabella Sciorra". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  38. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (November 18, 2021). "Annabella Sciorra to Star in Crime Drama 'Fresh Kills' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  39. ^ "Law and Order: SVU is Bringing Yet Another Franchise Vet Back in Season 22". January 16, 2021.
  40. ^ "Actress Annabella Sciorra swaps TV, film roles for Broadway part in 'The Motherf-- with the Hat'". New York Daily News. March 27, 2011.
  41. ^ a b c "Annaballa Sciorra (Awards)". IMDb. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  42. ^ "Awards & Nominations". Emmys.com. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  43. ^ "Theatre World Awards - Theatre World Awards". www.theatreworldawards.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  44. ^ "Denver Film Festival announces actor Annabella Sciorra in person". Denver Film Festival. October 27, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
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