Who is Maura Tierney?
American actress Maura Therese Tierney was born in Boston, Massachusetts USA, under the zodiac sign of Aquarius on 3 February 1965. She’s appeared in 55 movies and TV series, but is perhaps still known best for playing Abby Lockhart in 189 episodes (1999-2009) of the romantic series “ER”, which follows a group of people working at Chicago’s County General Hospital. The series aired from 1994 through 2009, starred George Clooney, Julianna Marguiles and Anthony Edwards, and won 156 of its 526 award nominations.
Maura’s still today active in the film industry, and is currently shooting for the upcoming movie “American Rust”.
Education and early life
Maura was raised in Boston alongside her two younger siblings, by their father Joseph M. Tierney who was a politician and a member of the Boston City Council from 1972 through 1987, and mother Pat (nee James) who’s a real estate broker; Joseph passed away aged 68 on 13 December 2009.
Maura studied at Mount Alvernia Academy Elementary School prior to progressing to Notre Dame Academy; it was during her teenage years that she fell in love with acting, as she was a member of her high school’s drama club and appeared in many school plays. She matriculated in 1983, and then enrolled at New York University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in drama and dance in 1987.
Roles in movies
Maura made her debut film appearance in the 1987 romantic family comedy “Student Exchange”, and could then have been seen in the 1988 crime drama “Crossing the Mob”, the 1989 drama “Flying Blind”, and the 1991 crime comedy “The Linguini Incident”.
She played Noreen in the 1992 crime action “White Sands”, directed by Roger Donaldson, and which starred Willem Dafoe, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Mickey Rourke. It follows the Sheriff of a small town who’s found a body in the desert, as well as a suitcase with $500,000, and has now begun impersonating the dead man. Some of Maura’s notable performances in the remainder of the ‘90s were in the 1994 biographical drama “Out of Darkness”, the 1998 comedy “Primary Colors”, and the 1999 romantic comedy “Forces of Nature”.
She portrayed Sally Mannis, one of the lead characters in the 2004 romantic comedy “Welcome to Mooseport”, directed by Donald Petrie, and which also starred Gene Hackman and Ray Romano; it follows a former US President who’s chosen to run for Mayor in his hometown. Maura could then have been seen appearing in the 2006 comedy “Danny Roane: First Time Director”, the 2008 sports comedy “Semi-Pro”, and the 2009 comedy “Stuck”.
The year 2017 saw her star as Laurette Sachman in the romantic drama “Anything”, written and directed by Timothy McNeil, and which also starred Matt Bomer and John Carroll Lynch; the film tells the story of ‘infinite possibilities of love’, and won eight awards.
Maura’s since appeared in only two movies: the 2018 biographical drama “Beautiful Boy”, and the 2019 biographical crime drama “The Report”.
Roles in TV series
Maura’s debut TV series role was playing Jillian Ryan in all the 10 episodes of the 1988 comedy “The Van Dyke Show”, while she was then invited to appear in an episode of the comedy “Family Ties”, the crime mystery “Booker”, and another crime mystery “Law & Order”.
In 1994, she starred as Cherlyn Markowitz in all the six episodes of the comedy mini-series “704 Hauser”, created by Norman Lear, and which also starred John Amos and Lynnie Godfrey; the mini-series follows the Cumberbatches who’ve moved houses after having lived at 704 Hauser Street for decades. Maura’s only other TV series role in the ‘90s was playing Lisa Miller in all 97 episodes of the romantic comedy “NewsRadio”, which Paul Simms created, and which starred David Foley, Stephen Root and Andy Dick. It follows the people working at WNYX NewsRadio, the series aired from 1995 through 1999 and won one of its 15 award nominations.
Maura had only three TV series roles in the 2000s: she voiced Kathy Kelly in nine episodes of the 2001 animated biographical comedy “Sammy”, played Caroline in the 2008 episode “Baby Mama Movie Trailer” of the drama “UCB Comedy Originals”, and was Kelly McPhee in nine episodes of the 2009 comedy “Rescue Me”.
Maura in the Affair pic.twitter.com/cNGeHTDpwD
— #Maura Tierney (@Maurachanel) July 14, 2017
From 2014 through 2019, she starred as Helen Solloway in the drama “The Affair”, created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi, and which also starred Dominic West and Ruth Wilson. It follows a young waitress and a struggling novelist who’ve begun an extramarital relationship, and the series won six of its 30 award nominations.
Maura’s since had roles in only two TV series, playing Fiona McKee in four episodes of the 2021 crime thriller “Your Honor”, and Grace Poe in 18 episodes of the 2021 crime drama “American Rust”.
Other credits
Maura received special thanks for the 2005 crime thriller comedy movie “The Matador”, the 2010 documentary movie “One a Minute” and the 2013 crime mystery film “McCanick”.
She produced the 2021 crime comedy movie “Scotland, Pa.”, the 2007 short film “MaNiC”, and the 2016 short comedy movie “I Know Jake Gyllenhaal Is Going to Fuck My Girlfriend”.
Maura’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “The IMDb Show”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Live with Kelly and Mark”.
Awards and nominations
Maura’s won four of her 20 award nominations. She won a 2003 Phoenix Film Festival Copper Wing Award for Best Ensemble Acting, for her and her colleagues’ performance in “Melvin Goes to Dinner”, a 2016 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, for “The Affair”, and a 2018 FilmOut San Diego Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress, for “Anything”.
Love life and relationships
There are two men whom Maura’s been with, that we know about. She met American actor and director Billy Morrissette in 1992, at the Hollywood Holiday Inn; the two began dating only a week later, and exchanged vows in a private ceremony on 1 February 1993. They starred alongside in the 2001 crime comedy movie “Scotland, PA”, which Billy directed, but Maura filed for divorce in 2006.
She then spent a couple of months dating American actor Nick Nolte, who’s 24 years her senior.
Since then Maura seems to be single, as of May 2023, was once married to Billy Morrissette and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Maura officiated the wedding of her friend, British actress Parminder Kaur Nagra and American photographer James Stenson on 1 February 2009.
She underwent surgery to remove a breast tumor in 2009; she had previously been cast to appear in the family comedy series “Parenthood”, but had to be replaced by Lauren Graham because the shooting schedule conflicted with her cancer treatments.
Maura was hit by a car while riding her bicycle in 2018, but was released from the hospital in the same day.
Close to 10,000 people are following Maura on Instagram today, and she’s posted 42 pictures and videos onto it; this is her second account – it’s believed that her main account was hacked.
Maura’s favorite actress is Susan Sarandon, while some of her favorite films include “Maybe I Do”, “That’s My Boy”, and “Thelma & Louise”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Maura’s age is 58. She has brown eyes and hair, is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, and weighs around 115lbs (52kgs).
Maura’s net worth’s been estimated at over $10 million, as of May 2023.
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