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Heather Matarazzo

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Heather Matarazzo
Matarazzo wearing a black jacket and speaking into two microphones
Matarazzo in 2008
Born (1982-11-10) November 10, 1982 (age 41)
Citizenship
  • United States
  • Republic of Ireland
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Spouse
Heather Turman
​
(m. 2018)​
PartnerCaroline Murphy (2004–2012)

Heather Matarazzo (born November 10, 1982)[1] is an American actress. She is known for playing Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries (2001) and its 2004 sequel, and Martha Meeks in Scream 3 (2000) and Scream (2022). Matarazzo made her film debut at age 12 in Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), earning an Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of Dawn Wiener. Her other credits include The Devil's Advocate (1997), All I Wanna Do (1998), 54 (1998), Sorority Boys (2002), Saved! (2004), Hostel: Part II (2007), and Sisters (2015).

Outside film, Matarazzo portrayed Heather Wiseman on the CBS series Now and Again (1999–2000), and had recurring roles on Roseanne (1997), Exes & Ohs (2006–2009), and The L Word (2007). On stage, she appeared in the 2001–2002 Broadway revival of The Women.

Early life

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Matarazzo's biological mother was Irish-American,[2] while her biological father was from Ireland, from the town of Knock (Irish: An Cnoc), County Mayo.[3] She was adopted and raised by the Matarazzos, an Italian-American family.[2]

Career

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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 as adolescent social outcast Dawn Wiener 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, based on a true story, 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. 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.[6]

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.[7]

Personal life

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In 2004, at the age of 21, Matarazzo came out as a lesbian in an article in the New York Daily News, and was subsequently profiled in an article in the October 2004 edition of The Advocate.[8] On July 31, 2008, Matarazzo's publicist announced that Matarazzo was engaged to musician Caroline Murphy.[9] In 2012, popular media news outlets announced that Matarazzo and Murphy had split amicably.[10] Matarazzo married comedian Heather Turman in 2018.[11]

Matarazzo revealed she was scheduled to attend a meeting on the 15th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, shortly after the attacks occurred, but overslept.[12]

Matarazzo endorsed and actively campaigned for Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Welcome to the Dollhouse Dawn Wiener Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film
1997 Hurricane Streets Ashley
The Deli Sabrina
The Devil's Advocate Barbara
A Change Would Do You Good The girl in the band Mini movie/music video for Sheryl Crow
1998 54 Grace O'Shea
The Hairy Bird Theresa "Tweety" Goldberg
1999 Getting to Know You Judith
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 Weisenfreund
2010 Mangus! Jessica Simpson
2015 Sidewalk Traffic Freda Rabinowitz
Sisters Denny
2016 Her Composition Gallery Owner
Girl Flu. Lilli
The Great WTYT 960 Billboard Sitting Contest! Jezebel
Culling Hens Mistress
Are You Afraid of the '90s? Jessica Short film
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Shannon
Stuck Darby Dixon
2019 The Fiddling Horse Rosalina Truman
Smothered by Mothers Annie Davis
Billboard Jezebel
2021 Generation Wrecks Alison Holtzman
2022 Scream Martha Meeks
2023 The Mattachine Family Annie
Booger Ellen [14]
Wish Flying Woman Voice
2024 Paper Tiger Angela Short film

Television

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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 Paulson 2 episodes
Raymond & Lane Reverend Mother Episode: "Climb Every Mountain"
2020 Equal Phyllis Lyon Episode: "The Birth of a Movement"
2022 Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror Herself Docuseries
2023 You're Not Supposed to Be Here Carla Television movie
2025 Wednesday TBA Season 2; guest role

References

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  1. ^ "Chatter: Broadway". Asbury Park Press. November 10, 1996. p. 2. ProQuest 2015471009. Actor Jack Scalia is 45. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 40. Actress MacKenzie Phillips is 37. Actress Heather Matarazzo ('Welcome to the Dollhouse') is 14. See also:
    • "Horoscopes: Today's Birthdays". Newsday. November 10, 2023. p. B10. ProQuest 2890281136. Actor Jack Scalia, 73. Actor-comedian Sinbad, 67. Actor Hugh Bonneville, 60. Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan, 55. Actor Ellen Pompeo, 54. Rapper Eve, 45. Actor Heather Matarazzo ('Welcome to the Dollhouse') is 41.
  2. ^ a b "Chatting with Heather Matarazzo". E! News.
  3. ^ "Heather Matarazzo on Meeting Her Birth Mother".
  4. ^ Konig, Susan (May 7, 2000). "At 17, She Already Finds Herself On Top of the Acting Game". New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  5. ^ Warn, Sarah (February 27, 2006). "Welcome to the New Heather Matarazzo". AfterEllen.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Raising the curtain on summer theater: Cape May Stage presents world premiere". Press of Atlantic City. New Jersey. May 12, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "Heather Matarazzo Talks Being an Out Actress, New TV Show, and 'Mangus!'". Pride.com. Los Angeles, California: Here Media. December 3, 2011.
  8. ^ Anne Stockwell (October 12, 2004). "Coming Out 2004: Welcome to the house, doll!". The Advocate. pp. 73–78.
  9. ^ Warn, Sarah (August 1, 2008). "Heather Matarazzo Officially Engaged to Caroline Murphy". AfterEllen.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  10. ^ Belge, Kathy (February 14, 2009). "Heather Matarazzo: Lesbian Actress". About.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  11. ^ "Princess Diaries' Heather Matarazzo is Engaged to Heather Turman". January 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Matarazzo, Heather [@HeatherMatarazz] (September 11, 2019). "18 years ago today, I had a meeting at World Trade Center Tower 1, 15th floor at 9 AM. I woke up at 8:50. Every year, on this day, I think about how my alarm didn't go off. Missing my city today. #WhereWereYou" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Matarazzo, Heather [@HeatherMatarazz] (May 23, 2016). "Join me and @cenkuygur tomorrow to introduce the future we believe in, @BernieSanders #bernieinanaheim #CAforBernie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Hopewell, John (August 1, 2023). "Grace Glowicki-Starrer 'Booger,' From 'Everything Everywhere,' 'Shiva Baby' Exec Producers, Boarded by Visit Films (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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