Mac McDonald of The Monterey County Herald will host a conversation with Maria Bello, Golden Globe winning star of THE COOLER, and the forthcoming THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE.

Maria Bello was born on 18 April, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Father, Joe, was a contractor and mother, Kathy, was a teacher and school nurse.

She went to Villanova University, majoring in political science. She had every intention of becoming a lawyer, but she took an acting class during her senior year, just for fun.

She got her big break when producers cast her in the spy show "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (1996) as "Mrs. Smith". The show was canceled after eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on "ER" (1994) as "Dr. Anna Del Amico", in which she guest-starred on the final three episodes of the third season. The show's producers were so impressed with her that they asked her back as a regular on the series.

The actress went on into movies landing a role in Coyote Ugly. She has been nominated for the Golden Globe award twice: for Best Supporting Actress in The Cooler (2003) and for Best Actress in A History of Violence (2005). In 2008 Bello starred in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as Eve O'Connell. She has a starring role in the new film The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

Maria will discuss her career and present her film The Cooler, which also starred Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy.

The interview will be followed by a screening of The Cooler, and a Q & A with Maria Bello.

Hosted by Mac McDonald of The Monterey County Herald.

The unluckiest man in Vegas - a guy whose bad luck is contagious - is used by the last of the old time mob run casinos to kill high rollers' action. That is, until he falls in love with a cocktail waitress and gets "lady luck," which throws the situation into reverse. Things turn nasty when the casino director tries to break up the romance.

Year: 2003
Director: Wayne Kramer
Rating: R
Runtime: 101min.

Cast: William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston, Paul Sorvino