Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#15
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Marisa Tomei represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 42 years in, and Marisa is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Marisa Tomei appears in 52 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Marisa. Avengers: Endgame is the clearest case: a film rated 8.5 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for romance, comedy, action. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Mark Gantt, Destin Daniel Cretton, Carlson Young and others, Marisa Tomei helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) as Aunt May · Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023) as Self - Guest · Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) as May Parker
Career snapshot
Ranked #15 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
52
1984–2026
Career length
42 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.5
Avengers: Endgame
Average Nutevio score
6.4
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.3
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Most frequent director
Jon Watts
3 films together
Longest collaboration
3×
With Jon Watts
Most common genre
Comedy
30 titles
Average runtime
1h 45m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.0
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.8
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
1990s
6.8 average MV
The 1990s are where the work and the material meet. Four Rooms, The Paper, Only You — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
1990s
6.8
Across 6 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
1990s
6.7
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1980s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. The Toxic Avenger.
Most productive era
2010s
21 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | — | 7.23 films | 6.84 films | 6.510 films | 5.74 films |
| Action | 6.21 film | — | 5.82 films | 7.55 films | 5.44 films |
| Thriller | — | — | 6.24 films | 6.62 films | 0.01 film |
| Comedy | 6.21 film | 6.65 films | 6.17 films | 6.39 films | 6.48 films |
| Crime | — | — | 7.11 film | 7.21 film | 5.82 films |
| Romance | — | 6.71 film | 6.54 films | 6.34 films | 6.14 films |
| Horror | 6.21 film | — | — | 6.62 films | — |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Health Club Girl (uncredited).
Highest rated performance · Career peak
8.5 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer. Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
The current state of the argument, as May Parker.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
52 of 52 films
as Aunt May
Directed by Anthony Russo
as Self - Guest
Directed by Paul Miller
as May Parker
Directed by Jon Watts
as Emma Holloway
Directed by Unknown
as Cassidy
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Loading credits…
The defining work
#1
Aunt May
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Performance score8.2
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Aunt May gives Marisa Tomei a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Self - Guest
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023)
Performance score8.0
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Self - Guest is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
May Parker
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Performance score8.0
Spider-Man: No Way Home asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. May Parker is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Emma Holloway
Laboratory Conditions (2018)
Performance score7.8
Laboratory Conditions asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Emma Holloway is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Aunt May
Start here. Avengers: Endgame is the clearest statement of what Marisa Tomei does — accessible, 181 minutes, and rated 8.5 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Marisa at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
The Wrestler (2008)
A deliberate change of key after Avengers: Endgame — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Laboratory Conditions (2018)
Keeps the drama register of The Wrestler but asks for a colder reading of it.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Keeps the science fiction register of Laboratory Conditions but asks for a colder reading of it.
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023)
A deliberate change of key after Spider-Man: No Way Home — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Jon Watts
Director
3 films together
Notably Spider-Man: No Way Home
Anthony Russo
Director
2 films together
Notably Avengers: Endgame
Judd Apatow
Director
2 films together
Notably The King of Staten Island
Lloyd Kaufman
Director
1 film together
Notably The Toxic Avenger
John Landis
Director
1 film together
Notably Oscar
Jonathan Lynn
Director
1 film together
Notably My Cousin Vinny
Richard Attenborough
Director
1 film together
Notably Chaplin
Norman Jewison
Director
1 film together
Notably Only You
Ron Howard
Director
1 film together
Notably The Paper
Quentin Tarantino
Director
1 film together
Notably Four Rooms
Nancy Meyers
Director
1 film together
Notably What Women Want
Tony Goldwyn
Director
1 film together
Notably Someone Like You...
Todd Field
Director
1 film together
Notably In the Bedroom
Jeff McGrath
Director
1 film together
Notably The Wild Thornberrys Movie
Peter Segal
Director
1 film together
Notably Anger Management
Charles Shyer
Director
1 film together
Notably Alfie
Sidney Lumet
Director
1 film together
Notably Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Darren Aronofsky
Director
1 film together
Notably The Wrestler
Jay Duplass
Director
1 film together
Notably Cyrus
George Clooney
Director
1 film together
Notably The Ides of March
Glenn Ficarra
Director
1 film together
Notably Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Andy Fickman
Director
1 film together
Notably Parental Guidance
Marc Lawrence
Director
1 film together
Notably The Rewrite
Sean McNamara
Director
1 film together
Notably Spare Parts
Adam McKay
Director
1 film together
Notably The Big Short
Jessie Nelson
Director
1 film together
Notably Love the Coopers
Gerard McMurray
Director
1 film together
Notably The First Purge
Joshua Leonard
Director
1 film together
Notably Dark Was the Night
Andy Fisher
Director
1 film together
Notably Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
John Asher
Director
1 film together
Notably I Hate Kids
Natasha Lyonne
Director
1 film together
Notably Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine
Paul Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Rebecca Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably She Came to Me
Carlson Young
Director
1 film together
Notably Upgraded
Destin Daniel Cretton
Director
1 film together
Notably Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Mark Gantt
Director
1 film together
Notably F Valentine's Day
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Jon Watts
Director
3 films together · 7.9 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 3 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Spider-Man: No Way HomeAnthony Russo
Director
2 films together · 8.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Avengers: EndgameJudd Apatow
Director
2 films together · 6.4 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The King of Staten IslandPaul Miller
Director
1 film together · 8.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + LoveDarren Aronofsky
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The WrestlerJonathan Lynn
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
My Cousin VinnyDestin Daniel Cretton
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Spider-Man: Brand New DayAdam McKay
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Big ShortRichard Attenborough
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
ChaplinGlenn Ficarra
Director
1 film together · 7.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Crazy, Stupid, Love.Carlson Young
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
UpgradedSean McNamara
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Spare PartsSidney Lumet
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Before the Devil Knows You're DeadTodd Field
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
In the BedroomGeorge Clooney
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Ides of MarchNorman Jewison
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Only YouRon Howard
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The PaperJeff McGrath
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Wild Thornberrys MovieNancy Meyers
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
What Women WantJohn Landis
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
OscarPeter Segal
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Anger ManagementLloyd Kaufman
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Toxic AvengerRebecca Miller
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
She Came to MeAndy Fisher
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"Mark Gantt
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
F Valentine's DayGerard McMurray
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The First PurgeJessie Nelson
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Love the CoopersMarc Lawrence
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The RewriteAndy Fickman
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Parental GuidanceTony Goldwyn
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Someone Like You...Jay Duplass
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
CyrusCharles Shyer
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
AlfieQuentin Tarantino
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Four RoomsJohn Asher
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
I Hate KidsJoshua Leonard
Director
1 film together · 5.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Dark Was the NightNatasha Lyonne
Director
1 film together · 5.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Sarah Cooper: Everything's FineSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
Spider-Man: No Way Home
as May Parker
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
The Wrestler
as Cassidy
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Marisa Tomei has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
42 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Comedy Legend
Awarded
30 catalogue titles in comedy, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
The Wrestler
as Cassidy
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
The Watcher
as Dr. Polly Beilman
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Avengers: Endgame
as Aunt May
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
as May Parker
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
as Kate
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Spider-Man: No Way Home
as May Parker
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
Michael Caine
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Harvey Keitel
Works with the same directors — Quentin Tarantino
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Bonnie Hunt
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Morgan Freeman
Built a career in the same territory: action and crime
Christopher Walken
Works with the same directors — Quentin Tarantino
Have your say
Community
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Reference
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