The comedic performance of Mona Lisa Vito in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny propelled Marisa Tomei into international prominence. This role earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1993, establishing her as a versatile talent capable of navigating both independent cinema and large-scale studio productions throughout her career.
Early Career and Education
Born in Brooklyn in 1964, Tomei graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School in 1982. Her early interest in performance was fostered by theater-loving parents and school productions. After briefly attending Boston University and the College of Fine Arts, she secured her first film credit as a waitress in The Flamingo Kid in 1984. She subsequently appeared in the soap opera As the World Turns and the sitcom A Different World.
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Tomei was a founding member of the Naked Angels Theater Company. Her 1986 off-Broadway appearance in John Morgan Evans's Daughters earned her a Theatre World Award. She maintained a consistent presence on stage, performing in Beirut, Sharon and Billy, and What the Butler Saw. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1998 in Wait Until Dark, followed by a 2019 revival of The Rose Tattoo. She earned a Drama Desk Special Award in 2014 for her work in Will Eno's The Realistic Joneses.
Film and Television Breadth
Following her breakout success in 1992, Tomei starred in a wide range of films, including Chaplin, The Paper, and Unhook the Stars. She received additional Academy Award nominations for her performances in In the Bedroom and The Wrestler. Her filmography includes The Ides of March, The Big Short, and The King of Staten Island. From 2016 through 2026, she portrayed May Parker within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Brooklyn
- Education: Boston University College of Fine Arts
- Academy Award win: 1993
- Broadway debut: 1998
- Citizenship: United States
- Languages: English, Italian
Questions readers ask
Did Tomei win her Academy Award due to a presenter error?
No. The allegation that Jack Palance announced the wrong name was officially denied by the Academy and disproved by Price Waterhouse.
Which Marvel Cinematic Universe character did she play?
She portrayed May Parker from Captain America: Civil War (2016) through Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress — 1993
- Worked as film actor, voice actor and stage actor
