Tina Majorino
Majorino at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Albertina Marie Majorino

(1985-02-07) February 7, 1985 (age 38)
Westlake Village, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1992–1999, 2004–present

Albertina Marie Majorino (/meɪdʒoʊˈriːnoʊ/; born February 7, 1985)[1][2][3] is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Waterworld; Corrina, Corrina; and Alice in Wonderland.

After her early success as a child actor, she returned to acting at age 18 as the character Deb in the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite. From 2004 to 2007, she portrayed Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie on Veronica Mars, and reprised the character in the 2014 spinoff film; she was offered the chance to play the character once again in the eight-episode fourth season in 2019, but turned it down. She has also appeared in the TV series Big Love, True Blood and Grey's Anatomy. She has played the part of Maggie Harris on the television series Legends. She later appeared in the recurring role of Florence in the television series Scorpion.

Early life

Majorino was born in Westlake Village, California, a city in Los Angeles County, to Sarah and Bob Majorino.[1] She has Italian ancestry on her paternal side.[4] Majorino has an older brother, Kevin, with whom she has formed a rock band, The AM Project.[5]

Career

Majorino began her acting career in a 1992 sitcom[6] called Camp Wilder. Her first film role was in 1994's When a Man Loves a Woman. She subsequently starred in leading roles in the family films Corrina, Corrina and Andre, both of which were released in August 1994.[7] Her next film was the 1995 action film Waterworld, playing a child named Enola.[8]

She played the title role in the 1999 television film Alice in Wonderland. After Alice, she took time off from show business, later saying that she stopped acting so she would not miss out on her childhood: "I wanted to experience the things that a little kid can experience and get to know myself so when I came back I could be tough enough and strong enough to keep a good attitude, keep my head on straight and make the right decisions for myself and my family."[9] She did not appear in another film until the 2004 cult film Napoleon Dynamite.[10] From 2004 onward, she played a recurring role on UPN's series, Veronica Mars, as the computer-savvy Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie. She first appeared in the show's eighth episode, "Like a Virgin", and continued until the show's series finale, "The Bitch is Back". Show creator Rob Thomas created the role with her in mind. She had met Thomas while interviewing him for a report on one of his books.[7] Majorino became a series regular in the show's third and final season.[11] During her time on Veronica Mars, she also started appearing in a recurring role on the cable television series Big Love with Waterworld costar Jeanne Tripplehorn and fellow Veronica Mars cast members Amanda Seyfried and Kyle Gallner.[10] In 2005, she appeared in the music video for the song "Blind" by rock group Lifehouse.[12]

She started filming for The Deep End, a television show for ABC in 2009. She played the role of Addy Fisher, a meek, insecure first-year associate at a high-profile law firm.[13][14][15] The show was canceled after only six episodes were aired.[16]

She returned to television in 2011 playing the recurring role of Special Agent Genny Shaw on Bones. She also starred in the music video for "Fuckin' Perfect" by Pink.

In 2012, she reprised her role as Deb in the animated TV version of Napoleon Dynamite. She was also seen playing the role of the vampire Molly in Season 5 of the HBO television series True Blood, an uncredited role as a pregnant woman in the Fox show, Raising Hope, in an episode titled "Tarot Cards," and the role of intern Dr. Heather Brooks in Season 9 of the ABC series Grey's Anatomy, with her character being killed off in the two-part premiere of Season 10. In 2014 she appeared in the Veronica Mars film as her character Mac, a project financed by fans through Kickstarter.[17] Majorino was approached to reprise the role of Mac when Veronica Mars was renewed for a fourth season by Hulu in 2019, but turned it down upon learning the role was essentially a cameo.[18]

In an interview with Mental in 2022, Majorino talks about dealing with anxiety and how therapy, meditation, and setting boundaries has helped her finally find self-love.[19]

Filmography

Majorino at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1994 When a Man Loves a Woman Jess Green
1994 Corrina, Corrina Molly Singer
1994 Andre Toni Whitney
1995 Waterworld Enola
1997 Santa Fe Crystal Thomas
1999 Alice in Wonderland Alice
2004 Napoleon Dynamite Deb
2006 Think Tank Sal
2006 A Sharp The Daughter Short Film
2007 What We Do Is Secret Michelle
2012 Should've Been Romeo Alice
2014 Veronica Mars Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 ABC TGIF Sophie TV Series
1992–1993 Camp Wilder Sophie Wilder Main role (19 episodes)
1996 New York Crossing Television film
1997 True Women Young Euphemia Ashby
1997 Before Women Had Wings Avocet Abigail 'Bird' Jackson
1997 Merry Christmas, George Bailey Janie Bailey
1999 Alice in Wonderland Alice
2004 Without a Trace Serena Barnes / Andrews Episode: "Lost and Found"
2004 Testing Bob Allison Barrett Television film
2004–2007 Veronica Mars Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie Recurring role (seasons 1–2); Main role (season 3); 33 episodes
2006–2011 Big Love Heather Tuttle Recurring role (26 episodes)
2010 The Deep End Addy Fisher Main role (6 episodes)
2010 In Security Television film
2011 P!nk: Fuckin' Perfect Adult Angel Video short
2011 Castle Reese Harmon Episode: "One Life to Lose"
2011–2012 Bones Special Agent Genevieve Shaw Recurring role (seasons 6–7; 3 episodes)
2012 Napoleon Dynamite Deb (voice) Main role (6 episodes)
2012 True Blood Molly Recurring role (season 5; 6 episodes)
2012–2013 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Heather Brooks Recurring role (seasons 9–10; 22 episodes)
2014 You, Me & Her Erin Short
2014 If the Days of the Week Were People Saturday Video short
2014 Legends Maggie Harris Main role (season 1; 10 episodes)
2017–2018 Scorpion Florence Recurring role (season 4; 12 episodes)
2020 Into the Dark Jenny Episode: "Delivered"
2020 Etheria Erin Episode: "You Me & Her"
2022 The Good Doctor Grace Episode: "Cheat Day"

References

  1. ^ a b "Tina Majorino Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Television News, Reviews and TV Show Recaps – HuffPost TV". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  3. ^ "Today in History". The Merced Sun-Star. The Associated Press. February 7, 2020. p. 4B. Actress Tina Majorino is 35.
  4. ^ Steele, Tyler. "Albertina Majorino Interview! (Aґrchived version)". Turtle Soup. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
  5. ^ Dransfeldt, Jeffrey (October 6, 2006). "Tina Majorino reflects on time away from show-biz". Oregon Daily Emerald. Retrieved July 24, 2009.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Child star Tina Majorino". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. ^ a b DuBois, Stephanie. "TV RISING STAR: 'VERONICA MARS' TINA MAJORINO SHUNS HOLLYWOOD RAT RACE". Netscape. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
  8. ^ Maslin, Janet (July 28, 1995). "WATERWORLD; Aquatic Armageddon With Plenty of Toys". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  9. ^ Conradt, Stacy (May 15, 2013). "Where Are They Now? 19 Child Stars of the '90s". Mental Floss. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Kuhn, Sarah. "Majorino Feeling the Love – "Big Love" actress brings genuineness to outsider roles". Back Stage West. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  11. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (October 24, 2006). "Tina Majorino (Mac) Teases Veronica Mars' Next Big Mystery". TV Guide. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  12. ^ Butler, Andrea (April 7, 2021). "Whatever Happened To The Little Girl From Waterworld?". Looper. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  13. ^ O'Connell, Joe (July 21, 2009). "ABC series 'The Deep End' expected to begin filming in North Texas". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  14. ^ Patterson, Troy (January 20, 2010). "Nice Teeth". Slate. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. ^ Hinckley, David (January 28, 2010). "ABC's 'The Deep End' firmly unoriginal". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  16. ^ Owen, Rob (May 19, 2010). "For fall, ABC adding 6 shows, making most changes on Tuesdays, Fridays". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  17. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (June 12, 2013). "Veronica Mars' Movie: Tina Majorino to Return as 'Mac". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ^ Burks, Robin (July 23, 2019). "Tina Majorino Explains Why She Didn't Return for Veronica Mars Season 4". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  19. ^ "Actress Tina Majorino Talks About Self-Soothing Her Anxiety". October 2, 2022.

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