|
|
 |
MIRA SORVINO BIOGRAPHY |
|
|
| |
Mira Sorvino was nearly dismissed as “too
refined” to play a “tacky hooker” in Mighty Aphrodite (1995).
That’s the thing about acting, though – if you’re good at it,
you can play anything. As Sorvino put it, in a recent interview,
“I wanted to play every kind of character in every situation.”
That desire came as no surprise. Sorvino’s father, Paul, is an
acclaimed character actor who, however, first exerted influence
with words. He encouraged his (far away from Hollywood) New
Jersey-born daughter to find self-expression outside acting, and
she did so in a most impressive way, earning a BA in East Asian
Studies at Harvard. A year as an exchange student in Beijing
solidified her Mandarin, saw completion of her thesis on Chinese-to-African
racism, but didn’t diminish a hereditary love of acting nurtured
in high school and college productions. After graduation, and
upon her return stateside, Sorvino moved to New York for
auditions and waitressing-while-waiting-for-calls.
Some theatre work – Greensleeves, Best Schools – and some
television – The Guiding Light, Swans Crossing, The Oldest
Rookie – led to a position as assistant director of the film,
Amongst Friends (1993). The talented 26-year-old was promoted to
associate producer and casting director, and finally to on-screen
co-star (for several film festival awards). Sorvino followed
that hard-won success with non-stop and varied roles, in: The
Obit Writer (1993), The Dutch Master (1993), The Second Greatest
Story Ever Told (1993), Parallel Lives (1994, TV), Barcelona
(1994), Quiz Show (1994), The Buccaneers (1995, TV), Blue in the
Face (1995), and New York Cop (1995). The year’s biggest and
best role, “unrefined” though it was, in Mighty Aphrodite,
netted the actor an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and National Board of
Review, New York Film Critics’ and Broadcast Film Critics’
awards. Sorvino didn’t change either her exhausting schedule or
her eclectic mix of genres after the Academy nod, next choosing
Tarantella (1995), Sweet Nothing (1996, TV), Jake’s Women (1996,
TV), Norma Jean and Marilyn (1996, TV – for an Emmy nomination),
Beautiful Girls (1996), Mimic (1997), Romy and Michele’s High
School Reunion (1997), Lulu on the Bridge (1998), Too Tired to
Die (1998), Free Money (1998), The Replacement Killers (1998),
At First Sight (1999), Summer of Sam (1999), and a 2000 off-Broadway
run in Naked.
Sorvino is popular with webfans, and webmasters who juxtapose
her Harvard degree with the ditzier of her roles. She is listed
among the Best Dressed of Hollywood, and is a posed and candid
interviewee. She has produced two documentaries – one tracing
anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union, and the other
depicting her profession: Just Stay Calm: Stories in Independent
Filmmaking.
Upcoming are The Triumph of Love, Semana Santa, WiseGirls, The
Gray Zone and The Great Gatsby. A respected artist both before
and behind the camera, Sorvino has the talent, experience, range
and versatility to, indeed, “play every character in every
situation.” It’s something fans can happily anticipate. |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
