Mary McCormack

Born: 8th February 1969
Where: Plainfield, New Jersey

After graduating from college in New York, Mary pursued a career in acting, appearing in numerous off-Broadway productions, before making her film debut with a small role in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street.

But her real breakthrough came on the drama series Murder One, after appearing in several TV legal dramas like Law & Order and The Wright Verdicts.

Her work attracted the attention of casting agents for the film of radio personality Howard Stern's memoir Private Parts.

Given Stern's reputation, Mary initially opted to pass on the part of his long-suffering wife, but was talked into reading the script by her agent, and later accepted the role.

The film exposed her to a wider audience, and opened eyes to the actress' abilities.

Featured roles in The Alarmist and Deep Impact followed, before she appeared in Getting to Know You, which debuted at Sundance.

In a brief break from the big screen, Mary appeared on stage in a high-profile role which demonstrated her capable singing voice, for the 1999 Broadway revival of Cabaret.

Mary was featured in the Clint Eastwood thriller True Crime, starred alongside Russell Crowe in Mystery, Alaska, as well as appearing in The Big Tease, Gun Shy, and High Heels and Low Lifes with Minnie Driver.

Her latest role, as the mother of a family that attempts to help David Spade's childlike Dickie Roberts brings her back into the mainstream, while her role in the BBC mini-series adaptation of Traffic has won her critical acclaim.