Born: February 7, 1985
Age: 39
Birthplace: Westlake, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Tina Marie Majorino (/meɪdʒoʊˈriːnoʊ/; born February 7, 1985) 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; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld.
Despite her early success, she took a sabbatical from 1999 to 2004. She returned for one of her best known roles to date, the character Deb in the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite. Since her return to acting, she has been in television series such as Veronica Mars, Big Love, True Blood and Grey's Anatomy. She returned to the role of Mac in the Veronica Mars movie, and has played the part of Maggie Harris on TNT's Legends TV series.
Majorino was born in Westlake, California the daughter of Sarah (née Black) and real estate agent Robert "Bob" Majorino. Her father is of Italian, Cuban, and French descent, and her mother has Scottish, German, and Filipino ancestry. She has an older brother, Kevin, with whom she has formed a rock band, The AM Project.
Majorino began her acting career in a 1992 sitcom 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. Her next film was the 1995 action film Waterworld, playing a child named Enola.
She played the title role in the 1999 television film, Alice in Wonderland. After Alice, she took time off from the business. She has since cited burnout as the reason for her hiatus from acting. She did not appear in another film until the 2004 cult film Napoleon Dynamite. From 2004 onward, she played a recurring role on UPN's series, Veronica Mars, as the computer-savvy Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie. It began 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. Majorino became a series regular in the show's third and final season. 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. In 2005, she appeared in the music video for the song "Blind" by rock group Lifehouse.
She started filming for The Deep End, a television show for ABC in 2009. She played the role of Addy Fisher, a meek and insecure first-year associate at a high profile law firm. The show was canceled after only six episodes were aired.
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.
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 | |
2004 | Napoleon Dynamite | Deb | |
2006 | Think Tank | Sal | |
2006 | Sharp, AA Sharp | The Daughter | Short film |
2007 | What We Do Is Secret | Michelle | |
2012 | Should've Been Romeo | Alice | |
2014 | Veronica Mars | Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992-1993 | Camp Wilder | Sophie Wilder | Main role (19 episodes) |
1996 | New York Crossing | TV film | |
1997 | True Women | Young Euphemia Ashby | TV film |
1997 | Before Women Had Wings | Avocet Abigail 'Bird' Jackson | TV film |
1997 | Merry Christmas, George Bailey | Janie Bailey | TV film |
1999 | Alice in Wonderland | Alice | TV film |
2004 | Without a Trace | Serena Barnes / Andrews | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
2004-2007 | Veronica Mars | Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie | Recurring / Main role (34 episodes) |
2006-2011 | Big Love | Heather Tuttle | Recurring role (26 episodes) |
2010 | In Security | TV film | |
2010 | Deep End, TheThe Deep End | Addy Fisher | Main role (7 episodes) |
2011 | Castle | Reese Harmon | Episode: "One Life to Lose" |
2011-2012 | Bones | Special Agent Genevieve Shaw | Episodes: "The Hole in the Heart", "The Male in the Mail", "The Bump in the Road" |
2012 | Napoleon Dynamite | Deb (voice) | Main role (6 episodes) |
2012 | True Blood | Molly | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
2012-2013 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Heather Brooks | Recurring role (22 episodes) |
2014 | Legends | Maggie Harris | Main role (Season 1, 10 episodes) |