Mira Sorvino is an award-winning actress who has appeared in close to 100 film and television roles and is a diligent social activist who has stepped up for numerous causes.
Sorvino has been cast in roles that range from comedy to horror to romantic mystery thriller. Her portrayal as a ditzy sex worker in Woody Allen’s “Mighty Aphrodite” won her critical acclaim and the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. She was discouraged from accepting the role of Romy White in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” but took it anyway, and the movie went on to become a cult classic with positive reviews. Other notable films include “Summer of Sam,” “Mimic,” and “The Replacement Killers.”
Sorvino's television work has also garnered her award nominations. For her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in “Norma Jean and Marilyn,” she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She was actively involved in campaigning against sex trafficking with Amnesty International and parlayed that experience into the miniseries “Human Trafficking,” for which she was twice nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress: Miniseries or Television Film.
Sorvino’s activism began before her film career and still continues. While at Harvard University, she volunteered for elderly outreach programs and wrote her thesis about racial conflict. After graduation, she worked on public service projects promoting literacy and education and on a documentary about anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union.
After serving as a campaign spokesperson for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program, Sorvino was appointed as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador against human trafficking. She has been a recipient of the Artist of Conscience Award, which is given to those who have made longstanding philanthropic and humanist efforts.
Sorvino is also known as a leader in the “#MeToo” movement, which sought to hold powerful men accountable for sexual assault and other misconduct. In an interview with Anthem magazine, she said, “That’s one of the best parts of my life. I really, truly love advocacy. I love working for survivors and trying to help amplify their voices.”