Here's What Maria Bello From NCIS Is Doing Now
Maria Bello, who played Dr. Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane on "NCIS" for three years, left the CBS series in March; fans were heartbroken. Bello posted an Instagram tribute to her "NCIS" family on her last day of filming, writing, "And that's a wrap for Jack Sloane @ncis_cbs !!! I've learned many things on this journey for the last three and a half years. I learned about commitment and community. I've learned that the woman I am enjoys process over product. I've never worked with a kinder, more generous group of people." The actor's Instagram post included a photo of herself hugging co-star Mark Harmon, along with a few other photos of her with the show's other stars.
Bello's Instagram message thanked the crew and producers for allowing her to be with her fiancee, Dominque Crenn, after Crenn's cancer diagnosis. The actor called the "NCIS" team a "profoundly decent group of people who care more about each other and the world in general than what is in it for them."
Bello's Instagram tribute and interviews after leaving the CBS series reflect her love for the series and her fellow cast members. She's moved on from "NCIS," but it will always hold a special place in her heart.
She's producing a new movie and enjoying her engagement
After leaving "NCIS," Maria Bello has taken on new professional challenges while spending time with her fiancee, Dominque Crenn. On the career front, Bello is producing the upcoming movie "The Woman King," about the fall of the African kingdom of Dahomey, which was annexed by France. The film is currently in pre-production and stars the fabulous Viola Davis.
With Bello's extensive television experience, along with critical raves for her work in "Thank You for Smoking," "Coyote Ugly," and "A History of Violence," she'll likely have no problem picking up another acting gig when she finishes "The Woman King." But her personal life appears to have taken center stage after her "NCIS" exit.
Crenn is the first and only woman chef in the United States to get three Michelin stars, per Vogue UK. The chef told the outlet in December 2020 that her cancer was in remission. And from Bello's social media posts, it appears she and Crenn have been traveling in 2021, focusing on time together and with family. In March, on International Women's Day, Bello posted an Instagram photo with Crenn, writing in her caption, "We will not know our full power until we know our full history. @lolosilvera @dominiquecrenn and I are making it our mission to bring you stories of the women who have impacted our world and the women who are impacting it today." It appears the former "NCIS" star has a new activism project brewing!
She's a social activist
In addition to her career and family life, Maria Bello is a passionate activist for several social causes. Per IMDb, Bello's parents are a contractor and a nurse/teacher. She hasn't forgotten her humble roots and uses her visibility as an actor to do good.
Bello majored in political science at Villanova University before becoming an actor. She's now a Global Ambassador for Haiti and was given the Human Rights Campaign Equality Award in 2015. E! News reported that Bello said in her acceptance speech, "I wish that one day the labels that discriminate against people will be a thing of the past and we will not have to fight for the permission to love who we love." Bello defines her sexuality as "W" for "whatever," refusing to let labels define her.
In 2011, Bello made headlines after calling out relief organizations in a HuffPost column after an earthquake in Haiti. She also co-founded We Advance, an organization that reduces bureaucracy and empowers countries struck by natural disasters. In a 2016 Philadelphia Inquirer interview, Bello talked about her activism, saying that "to have an effect, you have to be in touch with the local community and the needs of the local community."
When she's not helping local efforts in Haiti or dispelling misconceptions about sexual identity, Bello has also been open about her bipolar disorder diagnosis, telling Entertainment Tonight in 2015 that it's made her "more empathetic." We can't wait to see what she does next!