Marisa Tomei (born December 4, 1964) is an American actress. She started her acting career in the soap opera As the World Turns, which she followed up with a role on the sitcom A Different World. Her breakthrough performance came in My Cousin Vinny (1992) for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She received a second Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for In the Bedroom (2001). Part of her persona is a thick New York accent.

Oscar "mistake"

There is an urban legend that Tomei's Oscar for My Cousin Vinny should have gone to someone else. The rumour goes that

during the 'Oscar' ceremony, Jack Palance announced Tomei as winner, while actually there was another name on his note. The mistake was considered too embarrassing to correct.

This rumour has been debunked by Snopes.

Filmography

• Loverboy (2004)
• Alfie (2004)
• Anger Management (2003)
• The Guru (2002)
• Just a Kiss (2002)
• King of the Jungle (2001)
• Someone Like You (2001)
• In the Bedroom (2001)
• Dirk and Betty (2000)
• What Women Want (2000)
• The Watcher (2000)
• Happy Accidents (2000)
• My Own Country (1998) (TV)
• Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
• Reflections of Eden (1997)
• Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
• A Brother's Kiss (1997)
• Unhook the Stars (1996)
• Four Rooms (1995)
• The Perez Family (1995)
• Only You (1994)
• The Paper (1994)
• Untamed Heart (1993)
• Chaplin (1992)
• Equinox (1992)
• My Cousin Vinny (1992)
• Zandalee (1991)
• Oscar (1991)
• A Different World (1987) TV Series
• Playing for Keeps (1986)
• The Toxic Avenger (1985) (uncredited)
• The Flamingo Kid (1984)
• As the World Turns (1983-'85) TV Series
• guest appearance in 'The Seinfeld Show'

External links

• Marisa Tomei (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000673/) at the Internet Movie Database
• Article (http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/tomei.htm) on Snopes debunking Oscar mistake urban legend