Mira Sorvino is an Academy Award-winning actress who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. Born September 28, 1967, in Manhattan, she’s now 58 years old. Her career spans from Oscar-winning comedies to powerful activism work.
The actress stands 5’10” tall and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and French. She’s been married to actor Christopher Backus since 2004, and they have four children together. Her estimated net worth is $12 million as of 2025.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Mira Katherine Sorvino |
| Date of Birth | September 28, 1967 |
| Age | 58 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Manhattan, New York |
| Height | 5’10” (1.78 m) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, East Asian Studies, 1989) |
| Occupation | Actress, Activist, UN Goodwill Ambassador |
| Years Active | 1985–present |
| Spouse | Christopher Backus (m. 2004) |
| Children | 4 (Mattea, Johnny, Holden, Lucia) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $12 million |
| Notable Awards | Academy Award (1996), Golden Globe (1996) |
| Languages | English, Mandarin Chinese, French |
| Religion | Catholic (converted 2022) |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
Early Life & Education
Mira Katherine Sorvino grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, with her father Paul Sorvino, a renowned actor, and mother Lorraine Ruth Davis, a drama therapist. She could read by age three and performed in backyard plays with childhood friend Hope Davis. Both attended Dwight-Englewood School and later became successful actresses.
At Harvard University, she spent time as an exchange student in Nanjing, China, and Beijing. She sang in jazz bands, wrote for an English language paper, and conducted research on racial conflict. Her honors thesis “Anti-Africanism in the People’s Republic of China” won the prestigious Hoopes Prize.
She co-founded the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones, one of Harvard’s premier co-ed a cappella groups, in 1985. At Harvard’s Loeb Experimental Theatre in 1986, she played Dulcinea in “Man of La Mancha.” These early performances shaped her theatrical instincts years before professional training.
Career Breakthrough & Oscar
Before her breakthrough, Mira Sorvino worked as a coat check girl, bartender, and model English paper editor in China. Her first film appearance was in 1985’s “The Stuff” at age 18, playing an uncredited factory worker visiting her father on set. She earned her Screen Actors Guild Card from a deleted scene in Law & Order (1990).
Her unusual path to stardom began on the indie film Amongst Friends (1993). She started as third assistant director, got promoted to casting director, then assistant producer. The director finally offered her the lead role as Laura.
Mighty Aphrodite (1995) changed everything. She portrayed a prostitute in Woody Allen’s comedy with such vulnerability that she won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. The performance came at personal cost, as she later revealed: “I was absolutely neurotic doing Mighty Aphrodite. Every night brought a new nervous breakdown.”
Peak Hollywood Years
After her Oscar win, Mira Sorvino became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) cemented her place in popular culture as Romy White. The film celebrated female friendship and became a cult classic.
She demonstrated versatility across genres during this period. The Replacement Killers (1998) showcased her in action alongside Chow Yun-fat. Mimic (1997) paired her with director Guillermo del Toro in a horror film, though she later regretted choosing a movie about her personal phobia of cockroaches.
Her salary for At First Sight (1999) reportedly reached $3 million. She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for portraying Marilyn Monroe in Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996). Standing 5’10” (1.78 m) with fluency in both Mandarin Chinese and French, she brought intellectual depth uncommon among Hollywood actors.
Marriage & Family Life
Mira Sorvino met actor Christopher Backus in August 2003 at West Hollywood’s Sur restaurant where he worked as a server according to her IMDb profile. She initially told people they met at a charades party because of their 11-year age gap. They married on June 11, 2004, in a civil ceremony in Santa Barbara, California.
A formal ceremony followed in July 2004 on a hilltop in Capri, Italy, overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Her wedding gown was designed by Giorgio Armani, honoring Italian fashion heritage. She told The New York Times: “It was a way of inviting all of my ancestral ghosts to join us at the wedding.”
The couple has four children: Mattea (born 2004), Johnny (born 2006), Holden (born 2009), and Lucia (born 2012). In 2024, they celebrated their 20th anniversary by returning to Capri and locating the exact house where they married. They’ve starred together in films including Indiscretion and the upcoming Baggage Check.
Weinstein Scandal & #MeToo
In 2017, Mira Sorvino publicly revealed in a New Yorker interview that producer Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her after her Oscar win. She believed her career was deliberately sabotaged after rebuffing his advances. Director Peter Jackson confirmed that Weinstein blocked both Sorvino and Ashley Judd from consideration for The Lord of the Rings films.
This revelation helped catalyze the #MeToo movement across Hollywood. In May 2018, following Bill Cosby’s conviction, Sorvino stated: “Please, God, let Weinstein be next. He committed numerous crimes, and he raped people I care deeply about, and he needs to pay for that.” She also revealed in 2019 that she was a date rape victim.
Being blacklisted from The Lord of the Rings trilogy cost her millions in potential income during what should have been her most lucrative period. Her courage in speaking out helped topple one of Hollywood’s most powerful predators. She remains committed to breaking silence around violence against women.
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UN Ambassador & Activism
Mira Sorvino has been affiliated with Amnesty International since 2004, receiving their Artist of Conscience Award in 2006. From 2009 to 2012, she served as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for combating human trafficking. She lobbied Congress specifically to help abolish the practice in Darfur.
Her commitment extends beyond ceremonial appointments. She appeared in Sound of Freedom (2023), which addresses human trafficking in South America. She’s developing a docuseries with her sister Amanda Sorvino using animal-assisted therapy to help trafficking survivors on their 200-acre family ranch.
Her mother Lorraine Ruth Davis participated in the 1963 March on Washington, establishing multi-generational activism in her family. Sorvino stated about the #MeToo movement: “It’s blossomed into something that’s really powerful, and really beautiful, and I’m proud to be a part of it.” She’s photographed at Capitol Hill as early as 2001, years before her official UN appointment.
Television & Recent Work
Mira Sorvino maintained steady television work throughout her career. She appeared in Guiding Light (1991-1992) as Julie Camaletti, serving as a temporary replacement for actress Jocelyn Seagrave. Her television filmography spans diverse projects from soap operas to premium cable dramas.
She worked with Ryan Murphy on the Netflix miniseries Hollywood (2020) as Jeanne Crandall and Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021). Recent roles include the main cast of Shining Vale (2022-2023) playing multiple characters. She appeared on Blue Bloods in 2024 as Fire Commissioner.
In 2023, she competed on Dancing with the Stars Season 32 and Celebrity Jeopardy! These appearances introduced her to new audience demographics beyond traditional dramatic acting. She continues choosing roles that align with personal values while maintaining visibility across multiple platforms.
Personal Philosophy & Faith
Mira Sorvino converted to Catholicism following the death of her father Paul Sorvino in July 2022. She was raised in her mother’s Episcopal faith but found solace in her father’s Italian Catholic heritage. Her spiritual journey reflects how personal loss shaped her faith.
She’s been outspoken about values often dismissed in contemporary Hollywood. Sorvino stated: “Something that’s missing in life, and often in movies, is goodness. Goodness has lost its cool. It’s not a valued attribute anymore to live a decent life like my grandparents, who believed in kindness.”
Her family resides in Los Angeles on a 200-acre ranch used for their upcoming human trafficking docuseries. She emphasizes date nights with Christopher Backus as essential when raising four children. They stay at hotels in Pasadena, downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Venice Beach to reconnect as a couple away from parenting responsibilities.
2025 Broadway Debut
In September 2025, Mira Sorvino made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre according to People Magazine. This marked a significant new chapter at age 58. The move to live theater demonstrates continued artistic evolution and willingness to challenge herself in new mediums.
Her “beautiful singing voice” prepared her for musical theater decades earlier. She co-founded the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones a cappella group and played Dulcinea in Harvard’s production of “Man of La Mancha.” She also sang in jazz bands during her seven months in Beijing.
In May 2025, Sorvino revealed that a sequel to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion was in development at 20th Century Studios. This announcement thrilled fans who cherished the original for nearly three decades. Both projects demonstrate Hollywood’s recognition of her enduring appeal across generations.
Legacy & Cultural Impact
According to Celebrity Net Worth Mira Sorvino’s estimated net worth stands at $12 million, reflecting both Oscar-winning status and sustained career longevity. She owns her own production company, allowing creative control over projects. Her career spans 1985-present with over 100 film and television credits across multiple genres.
Entomologist Thomas Eisner named a compound excreted by the sunburst diving beetle “mirasorvone” in honor of her role as entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler in Mimic. This represents an extremely rare honor where a Hollywood performance inspired scientific nomenclature. The compound name appears in peer-reviewed entomological literature permanently.
She’s one of only 25 actresses to receive an Academy Award for comedy, joining names like Claudette Colbert, Judy Holliday, Audrey Hepburn, and Diane Keaton. Her influence on the #MeToo movement remains significant as she helped topple Harvey Weinstein. At 58, she continues working steadily while balancing activism, family life, and artistic challenges that define her multifaceted approach to public life.
Conclusion
Mira Sorvino represents a unique intersection of intellectual achievement and artistic excellence in Hollywood. Her Harvard education, Oscar win, United Nations work, and #MeToo advocacy demonstrate multifaceted approach to public life. She maintained steady output even during the “Weinstein blacklist” period when she was blocked from major franchise opportunities.
Her recent Broadway debut and upcoming Romy and Michele sequel show she’s not retreating from public life. With four children, continued activism, and willingness to take on new challenges, she embodies resilience. Her trajectory from Oscar-winning ingenue to outspoken activist mirrors larger cultural shifts around power and women’s voices in entertainment.
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FAQ About Mira Sorvino
What is Mira Sorvino’s net worth in 2025?
According to Celebrity Net Worth Mira Sorvino’s estimated net worth is $12 million.
How tall is Mira Sorvino?
She stands 5’10” (1.78 m) tall.
Who is Mira Sorvino’s husband?
Christopher Backus, an actor she married in 2004.
What Oscar did Mira Sorvino win?
Best Supporting Actress in 1996 for Mighty Aphrodite.
What languages does Mira Sorvino speak?
Mandarin Chinese and French fluently.
How old is Mira Sorvino?
58 years old (born September 28, 1967).
What is Mira Sorvino doing in 2025?
Made her Broadway debut in Chicago musical.
Is Mira Sorvino related to Paul Sorvino?
Yes, Paul Sorvino was her father.
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