Maura Tierney, a familiar face
to television viewers after her four-year role as newswriter Lisa Miller on
NBC's critically acclaimed comedy "NewsRadio," has shifted into a more dramatic
gear on the full-throttle pace of "ER" where she received an Emmy Award
nomination for her performance as a former medical student who's resumed her
nursing career in the ER.
Born in Boston, Tierney says she prefers living in New York to Los Angeles -- or
for that matter, to any other city she's visited. She has made a habit of
travel; she likes to drive cross-country for fun and adventure, having visited
all but two states (Kansas and Iowa) so far.
Tierney, who has always been interested in the dramatic arts, attended New York
University and Circle-in-the-Square Theatre School. Her stage credits include
roles in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," "The Bald Soprano," "Baby with
Bathwater," "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea" and "Talking With."
The young actress had her first starring role on television in Norman Lear's
comedy series "704 Hauser Street." Tierney's additional credits include starring
in the television films "Out of Darkness," "Student Exchange" and "Crossing the
Mob." She guest-starred in the series "Growing Pains," "Family Ties" and NBC's
"Law & Order."
On the big screen, Tierney starred with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock in
"Forces of Nature," opposite Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr. in "Instinct,"
alongside John Travolta and Emma Thompson in Mike Nichols' "Primary Colors," and
opposite Jim Carrey in "Liar, Liar." Earlier this year she was seen in "Scotland
P.A.," written and directed by her husband, Billy Morrissette, and also starring
Christopher Walken and Tierney's former "NewsRadio" co-star Andy Dick. Tierney
also starred opposite Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank in "Insomnia."
This past spring, she starred in the off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute's
"Some Girl(s)" at the Lucille Lortel Theater. She joined the cast which included
Eric McCormack, Fran Drescher, Judy Reyes and Brooke Smith.
While working, Tierney divides her time between Los Angeles and New York. Her
birthday is February 3.
THANKS TO NBC.COM