Since her first leading role, as a convict's loyal girlfriend, in her friend Rob Weiss' debut film Amongst Friends (1993), Mira Sorvino has been on the fast track to stardom, playing a wide variety of multifaceted characters. Her breakthrough role displayed her willingness and ability to take on unusual parts; Sorvino shocked and delighted audiences as a crass New York streetwalker in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995). The stretch paid off, not only did her performance steal the show, it also earned Sorvino an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Born in Tenafly, NJ, on September 28, 1967, Sorvino is the daughter of character actor Paul Sorvino, best known for roles in films like Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990). Initially, her father attempted to steer Sorvino and her two siblings away from the acting profession. He was particularly adamant that his offspring not do any professional acting during childhood, so Sorvino contented herself with appearing in various school productions. Following her high school graduation, she earned a degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University; she spent one year of her education as an exchange student in Beijing, China, where she became fluent in Mandarin.

Upon graduation, Sorvino still wanted to act and she moved to New York to pursue her career. Between small acting gigs, she waited tables and worked as a production assistant until 1992, when Weiss hired her as a third assistant director on the low-budget, independent Amongst Friends. She proved so adept at her job that he promoted her to associate producer and eventually cast her as his leading lady.

Filmography
Wisegirls (2002) .... Meghan
Lisa Picard Is Famous (2001)
Great Gatsby, The (2001) (TV) .... Daisy Buchanan
Bamboozled (2000) .... Herself
Summer of Sam (1999) .... Dionna
At First Sight (1999) .... Amy Benic
Lulu on the Bridge (1998) .... Celia Burns
Replacement Killers, The (1998) .... Meg Coburn
Mimic (1997) .... Susan Tyler
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) .... Romy White
Sweet Nothing (1996) .... Monika
Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996) (TV) .... Marilyn Monroe
Beautiful Girls (1996) .... Sharon Cassidy
Mighty Aphrodite (1995) .... Linda Ash aka Judy Cum
Quiz Show (1994) .... Sandra Goodwin