Heather Matarazzo

Heather Matarazzo

Heather Matarazzo at 2008 New York City Rally for same-sex marriage.
Born Heather Christina Marie Matarazzo
(1982-11-10) November 10, 1982
Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1993present
Partner(s) Caroline Murphy (2004–2012)

Heather Christina Marie Matarazzo[1] (born November 10, 1982) is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was Dawn Wiener, a dorky girl in the film Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). She played Lilly in The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Her other movies include The Devil's Advocate (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Sorority Boys (2002), Saved! (2004), and Hostel: Part 2 (2007).

Early life

Matarazzo was born and raised in Oyster Bay, New York, the daughter of Camille, a homemaker, and Ray Matarazzo, a data processing manager for a bakery chain.[2] Matarazzo is of Irish descent, and was adopted and raised by the Matarazzos, a strict Catholic Italian American family.[3]

Career

Matarazzo began acting at the age of six; after commandeering the microphone at an AIDS benefit for children, she was given the card of a talent manager with whom she remained for ten years.[4]

In 1997, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Welcome to the Dollhouse. Matarazzo has expressed pleasure in being allowed to play interesting characters, some of whom "are ostracized for various reasons." She has commented that she is most proud of her performance in 1999's Our Guys: Outrage in Glen Ridge, in which she played a mentally challenged girl who is raped by football players.[5] In 1999 to 2000 she portrayed Heather Wiseman in the short-lived TV series, Now and Again. In 2000 she appeared in the teen romantic comedy film The Princess Diaries as Lilly Moscovitz and reprised her role in the 2004 sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Matarazzo has made appearances on several hit TV shows including Roseanne, Law & Order, The L Word, Greys Anatomy and Strangers With Candy.[6] Matarazzo starred opposite Thaao Penghlis in the world premiere of Charles Evered's play Class at Cape May Stage in Cape May, New Jersey in May and June 2010.[7]

In 2011, Matarazzo announced that she would begin working on her directorial debut, a television series to be based on a memoir by author Diane Hanks, titled Summer Camp: A Memoir.[8]

Personal life

Matarazzo is openly lesbian.[5] On July 31, 2008, Matarazzo's publicist announced that Matarazzo was engaged to musician Caroline Murphy.[9] She was the keynote speaker at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Boston's annual conference. In 2012, popular media news outlets announced that Matarazzo and Murphy had split amicably.[10]

Matarazzo revealed that she was scheduled to be at a meeting on the 15th floor of One World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, shortly after the attacks occurred.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Welcome to the Dollhouse Dawn Wiener Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Younger Actress in a Feature Film
1997 Hurricane Streets Ashley
The Deli Sabrina
The Devil's Advocate Barbara
1998 54 Grace O'Shea
The Hairy Bird Theresa "Tweety" Goldberg
2000 Company Man Nora
Scream 3 Martha Meeks
2001 The Princess Diaries Lilly Moscovitz
2002 Sorority Boys Katie
2003 The Pink House Charlotte
2004 Saved! Tia
Freshman Orientation Jessica
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Lilly Moscovitz
2005 Believe in Me Cindy Butts
2007 Hostel: Part II Lorna
2010 Mangus! Jessica Simpson
2013 Culling Hens Mistress
2015 Sidewalk Traffic Freda Rabinowitz
Sisters Denny
2016 Her Composition Gallery Owner
2016 Girl Flu Lilli
2016 The Great WTYT 960 Billboard Sitting Contest! Jezebel
2016 Smothered by Mothers Annie
2016 Culling Hens Mistress
2016 Are You Afraid of the '90s? Jessica short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Adventures of Pete and Pete Natasha 2 episodes
1996 Townies Bethany 4 episodes
1997 ER Alyssa Gunther Episode: "Random Acts"
Roseanne Heather 4 episodes
1998 Law & Order Stephanie Sutter Episode: "Burden"
1999 Our Guys Leslie Faber Television movie
1999-2000 Now and Again Heather Wiseman 22 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Younger Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
2000 Strangers with Candy Renee Episode: "Is My Daddy Crazy?"
2002 St. Sass Margo Television movie
2006-2009 Exes and Ohs Crutch 8 episodes
2007 The L Word Stacey Merkin 4 episodes
2008 Law & Order Janice Dunlap Episode: "Sweetie"
Life on Mars June Episode: "The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler"
2014 Stalker Emily Episode: "Fanatic"
2015 Grey's Anatomy Joan 2 Episodes
Raymond & Lane Reverend Mother Episode: "Climb Every Mountain"

References

External links

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