Heather Matarazzo
Encyclopedia
Heather Amy Matarazzo is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was as a geek
y 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).
, the daughter of Camille, a homemaker, and Ray Matarazzo, a data processing manager for a baker
y chain. Matarazzo is of Irish descent, and was adopted and raised by the Matarazzos, a strict Catholic
Italian American
family. She attended Oyster Bay High School
, as well as the BOCES Cultural Arts Center High School.
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. Matarazzo has made appearances on several hit TV shows including Roseanne, Law & Order, The L Word, and Strangers With Candy. Matarazzo starred opposite Thaao Penghlis
in the world premiere of Charles Evered
's play Class at Cape May Stage
in in May and June 2010.
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
y girl in the film Welcome to the Dollhouse
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 American independent coming of age dark comedy. An independent film, it launched the careers of Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo.-Plot:...
(1995). She played Lilly in The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries (film)
The Princess Diaries is a 2001 comedy film produced by singer and actress Whitney Houston and directed by Garry Marshall. It is based on Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name...
(2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is the 2004 sequel to 2001's The Princess Diaries.Most of the cast returned from the first film, including Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Héctor Elizondo, and Heather Matarazzo...
(2004). Her other movies include The Devil's Advocate
The Devil's Advocate (film)
The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman....
(1997), Scream 3
Scream 3
Scream 3 is a 2000 American slasher film created by Kevin Williamson, directed by Wes Craven and written by Ehren Kruger, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, released on February 4, 2000 as the third, and originally, concluding installment in the Scream film series...
(2000), Sorority Boys
Sorority Boys
Sorority Boys is a 2002 comedy film directed by Wallace Wolodarsky, about a group of college guys who dress up as women to prove their innocence for a crime they didn't commit.-Plot:...
(2002), Saved!
Saved!
Saved! is a 2004 teen comedy-drama film involving elements of religious satire. It was directed by Brian Dannelly and written by Dannelly and Michael Urban. It stars Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Eva Amurri, Martin Donovan, and Mary-Louise Parker...
(2004), and Hostel: Part 2 (2007).
Early life
Matarazzo was born and raised in Oyster Bay, New YorkOyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
, the daughter of Camille, a homemaker, and Ray Matarazzo, a data processing manager for a baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
y chain. Matarazzo is of Irish descent, and was adopted and raised by the Matarazzos, a strict Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
family. She attended Oyster Bay High School
Oyster Bay High School
Oyster Bay High School is a high school located in Oyster Bay, New York. The school is a part of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District. A more comprehensive history may be found on the school's website.-History:...
, as well as the BOCES Cultural Arts Center High School.
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.In 1997, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Welcome to the Dollhouse
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 American independent coming of age dark comedy. An independent film, it launched the careers of Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo.-Plot:...
. 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. Matarazzo has made appearances on several hit TV shows including Roseanne, Law & Order, The L Word, and Strangers With Candy. Matarazzo starred opposite Thaao Penghlis
Thaao Penghlis
Thaao Penghlis is an Australian actor. He is better known for roles in the U.S. daytime soap operas such as Days of our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but he has also guest-starred on a number of crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Hart to Hart, Nero Wolfe, ...
in the world premiere of Charles Evered
Charles Evered
Charles Evered is an American-born playwright, screenwriter and film director. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Evered grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, the fifth child of Marie and Charles J. Evered...
's play Class at Cape May Stage
Cape May stage
The Cape May Stage is a theatre company that performs in the Robert Shackleton Playhouse located at the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets in downtown Cape May, New Jersey.-Mission:...
in in May and June 2010.
Personal life
Matarazzo is openly lesbian. On July 31, 2008, Matarazzo's publicist announced that Matarazzo was engaged to Caroline Murphy. She was the keynote speaker at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Boston's annual conference.Film
- Welcome to the DollhouseWelcome to the DollhouseWelcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 American independent coming of age dark comedy. An independent film, it launched the careers of Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo.-Plot:...
(1995) – Dawn Wiener - Hurricane StreetsHurricane StreetsHurricane Streets is a 1997 American coming-of-age drama which was the debut feature film from writer-director Morgan J. Freeman . The film won the Audience, Best Director, and Best Cinematography Awards at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival—the first film ever to win three awards at the festival...
(1997) – Ashley - The Devil's AdvocateThe Devil's Advocate (film)The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman....
(1997) – Barbara - 54 (1998) – Grace O'Shea
- The Hairy BirdThe Hairy BirdThe Hairy Bird , also released under the titles Strike! and All I Wanna Do , is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Sarah Kernochan...
also known as All I Wanna Do and Strike! (1998) – Theresa 'Tweety' Goldberg - Our Guys: Outrage in Glen Ridge (1999) – Leslie
- Scream 3Scream 3Scream 3 is a 2000 American slasher film created by Kevin Williamson, directed by Wes Craven and written by Ehren Kruger, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, released on February 4, 2000 as the third, and originally, concluding installment in the Scream film series...
(2000) – Martha Meeks - The Princess DiariesThe Princess Diaries (film)The Princess Diaries is a 2001 comedy film produced by singer and actress Whitney Houston and directed by Garry Marshall. It is based on Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name...
(2001) – Lilly Moscovitz - Sorority BoysSorority BoysSorority Boys is a 2002 comedy film directed by Wallace Wolodarsky, about a group of college guys who dress up as women to prove their innocence for a crime they didn't commit.-Plot:...
(2002) – Katie - St. Sass (2002) – Margo
- The Pink House (2003) – Charlotte
- Saved!Saved!Saved! is a 2004 teen comedy-drama film involving elements of religious satire. It was directed by Brian Dannelly and written by Dannelly and Michael Urban. It stars Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Eva Amurri, Martin Donovan, and Mary-Louise Parker...
(2004) – Tia - Freshman Orientation (2004) – Jessica
- The Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is the 2004 sequel to 2001's The Princess Diaries.Most of the cast returned from the first film, including Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Héctor Elizondo, and Heather Matarazzo...
(2004) – Lilly Moscovitz - Believe In MeBelieve In Me"Believe in Me" is a single released by André Tanneberger from his album Seven Years: 1998-2005.-Believe in Me :# "Believe in Me" 3:16# "Believe in Me" 4:00# "Believe in Me" 8:01...
(2005) – Cindy Butts - Hostel: Part II (2007) – Lorna
- Mangus! (2010) - Jessica SimpsonJessica SimpsonJessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
Television
- The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1993) – Natasha, a neighborhood friend of Pete
- TowniesTowniesTownies is an American situation comedy that aired on ABC from September to December 1996. Created by Matthew Carlson, the series stars Molly Ringwald, Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham.-Synopsis:...
(1996) – Bethany - RoseanneRoseanne (TV series)Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
(1997) – Heather, DJ's girlfriend - Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
(1998, 2008) – Stephanie Sutter in "Burden"; Janice Dunlap in "Sweetie" - Now and AgainNow and AgainNow and Again is an American television series that aired in the US from September 24, 1999 until May 5, 2000 on CBS. The story revolves around the United States government engineering the perfect human body for use in espionage, but not being able to yet perfect the brain...
(1999) – Heather Wiseman - Strangers with CandyStrangers with CandyStrangers with Candy is a television series produced by Comedy Central. It first aired on April 7, 1999, and concluded its third and final season on October 2, 2000. Its timeslot was Sundays at 10 p.m....
(2000) – one of Jerri's friends in the episode "Is My Daddy Crazy?" - The Women (2002: PBS broadcast of 2001 stage revival) – multiple supporting roles
- The L WordThe L WordThe L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
(2007) – Stacey Merkin; four episodes; Season 4 - Exes and OhsExes and OhsExes & Ohs is an American and Canadian cable TV series that was launched on Logo on October 8, 2007, and Showcase in Canada. The show centres around the dating life of Jennifer , a lesbian documentary filmmaker with a vivid fantasy life and a floundering career. Jennifer is looking for Ms...
(2007) – Crutch - Indie Sex: Teens (2007) – as herself
- Life On MarsLife on Mars (U.S. TV series)Life on Mars was a science fiction crime drama television series which originally aired on ABC from October 9, 2008 to April 1, 2009. It is an adaptation of the BAFTA-winning original UK series of the same name produced by the BBC...
(2008) – June
External links
- Heather Matarazzo at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...