Annabella Sciorra
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 Det. 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[broken anchor].[4]
Early life
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
1989–1990: Film debut and early roles
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
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 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
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 Det. 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
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
Film
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
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | The Fortunate Pilgrim | Octavia | Main cast |
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 | Episode: "The Face of God" |
Jenifer | Meredith Estess | TV movie | |
2001–04 | The Sopranos | Gloria Trillo | Recurring cast (season 3), guest (season 4-5) |
2003 | Queens Supreme | Judge Kim Vicidomini | Main cast |
2004 | The Handler | Episode: "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 | Episode: "The Abominable Showman" |
2005–06 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Det. Carolyn Barek | Main cast (season 5) |
2007 | The L Word | Kate Arden | Recurring cast (season 4) |
ER | Diana Moore | Episode: "Photographs and Memories" & "Lights Out" | |
2009 | Mental | Nora Skoff | Main cast |
2010 | The Whole Truth | Madeline Landon | Episode: "When Cougars Attack" |
2012 | The Good Wife | Lesli Rand | Episode: "Waiting for Knock" |
2013 | Blue Bloods | Grace Meherin | Episode: "Front Page News" |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Nancy Brass | Episode: "Skin in the Game" & "The Devil and D.B. Russell" | |
2014 | Taxi Brooklyn | Jeanette Vandercroix | Episode: "Black Widow" |
2017 | Bull | ADA Shelly Giordano | Episode: "Bring it On" |
2018 | Luke Cage | Rosalie Carbone | Episode: "Can't Front on Me" & "They Reminisce Over You" |
GLOW | Rosalie Biagi | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
Daredevil | Rosalie Carbone | Episode: "Revelations" & "A New Napkin" | |
2019–20 | Truth Be Told | Erin Buhrman | Recurring cast (season 1) |
2021 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Det. Carolyn Barek | Episode: "Hunt, Trap, Rape, and Release"[39] |
New Amsterdam | Dr. Romy Lucio | Recurring cast (season 3) | |
Godfather of Harlem | Fay Bonanno | Recurring cast (season 3) | |
The Blacklist | Michaela Belucci | Episode: "The Avenging Angel (No. 49)" | |
2021–23 | Blue Bloods | Faith Marconi/Dr. Grace Meherin | 5 episodes |
2022 | Tulsa King | Joanne Manfredi | 3 episodes |
Theatre
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
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
- ^ 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
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra Responds to Weinstein Guilty Verdict After 'Painful but Necessary' Testimony". TheWrap. February 24, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Applebaum, Stephen (December 18, 1998). "Don't cry for me Annabella". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022.
- ^ Fusco, Maria Pia (April 30, 2000). "Sciorra: i film di Scorsese rovina di noi italo-americani". La Repubblica. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 20, 1989). "Review/Film; 'True Love,' as It Is in the Italian Bronx". The New York Times.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra Signs With CAA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. November 16, 2017.
- ^ "The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Morris, Wesley (November 22, 2017). "Who We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Weinstein". The New York Times.
- ^ ""Jungle Fever' is spreading". Tampa Bay Times. May 18, 1991. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Turan, Kenneth (June 7, 1991). "Lee's Fury in Control in 'Fever'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (June 7, 1991). "'Jungle Fever': Spike Lee's Comedy of Sorrow". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Entertainment Weekly. January 17, 1992. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Variety. December 31, 1991. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "100 essential thrillers: 1990s". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Best Forgotten 1990s Thriller". Screen Rant. September 4, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "Cop Land (1997)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Cop Land (1997)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "What Dreams May Come". RogerEbert.com. October 2, 1998. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (August 16, 2018). "'The Sopranos': 10 Best Episodes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ Burr, Ty (May 23, 2001). "The Sopranos leaves many plotlines unresolved". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (March 17, 2006). "A Bona Fide Soprano Entertains His Jury". The New York Times.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 15, 2018). "'Marvel's Luke Cage': Annabella Sciorra Joins Season 2 Of Netflix Series". The New York Times.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra Joins 'Marvel's Luke Cage' Season 2". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 11, 2019). "Annabella Sciorra To Star In 'God The Worm' For Mainstay Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Annabella Sciorra Splits From Bobby Cannavale". Starpulse.com. June 10, 2008. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
- ^ a b Farrow, Ronan (October 28, 2017). "Weighing the Costs of Speaking Out About Harvey Weinstein". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ "New Harvey Weinstein sexual assault accusations emerge". Fox News. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Weighing the Costs of Speaking Out About Harvey Weinstein". The New Yorker. October 27, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Vision Films to Release Dark Humor Self-Discovery Film "Before I Go" Starring Annabella Sciorra". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (November 18, 2021). "Annabella Sciorra to Star in Crime Drama 'Fresh Kills' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ "Law and Order: SVU is Bringing Yet Another Franchise Vet Back in Season 22". January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Actress Annabella Sciorra swaps TV, film roles for Broadway part in 'The Motherf-- with the Hat'". New York Daily News. March 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Annaballa Sciorra (Awards)". IMDb. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Awards & Nominations". Emmys.com. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Theatre World Awards - Theatre World Awards". www.theatreworldawards.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ "Denver Film Festival announces actor Annabella Sciorra in person". Denver Film Festival. October 27, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Annabella Sciorra at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Annabella Sciorra at IMDb
- Annabella Sciorra at the Internet Broadway Database
- Annabella Sciorra at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Annabella Sciorra at AllMovie
- Annabella Sciorra at the TCM Movie Database