Brigitte Bako

Only in Hollywood can you play a 22-year-old ingenue for eight years and suddenly wake up to find yourself playing a wife and mother. That’s exactly what happened to Brigitte Bako, star of the HBO comedy series, THE MIND OF THE MARRIED MAN.

Although the Montreal, Canada native came to New York in 1986 to pursue a career in dance, she was always eager to try new and innovative projects. In addition to her numerous theater and dance projects, Bako performed stand-up with Larry Bud Melman of David Letterman fame. After a few years of pounding the pavement in New York, Bako’s first big break came when she was hired to work for famed director Martin Scorsese in the film, New York Stories.

Other film roles have placed Bako in handsome company, working with some of Hollywood’s most desirable men. Throughout her film career she has worked opposite David Duchovney (“Red Shoe Diaries”), Benjamin Bratt and Michael Keaton (One Good Cop). Bako is a firm believer in the power of positive thinking, and “decided” her next film was going to be with Ralph Fiennes and so it was as they worked together on Strange Days. She has also worked with Patrick Dempsey (The Escape) and Billy Baldwin (Primary Suspect).

Bako received a Best Actress nomination in 1993 for Canada’s prestigious Genie Award (the Canadian Oscar) for her work in I Love a Man in Uniform. The film was honored with a Best Film nod at the Venice Film Festival. Her latest film, Saint Monica, where Bako speaks fluent Portuguese, will be featured in the Toronto Film Festival.

Returning to television gives Bako the opportunity to experience the growth of a character over time and that prospect excited her so much, she again “decided” her next television role would be on a HBO comedy series. Notes Bako, “It’s exciting to be part of the HBO family. I am given the latitude to develop a character that evolved and I know a lot of women relate to my character.”

On THE MIND OF THE MARRIED MAN Bako plays Bianca, an Italian American woman striving to be the perfect wife and mother. Her cheating husband, Jake, consistently challenges her traditional values. Bianca’s predicament poses a question many women can relate to–how much do you put up with in the name of love and family?

When she’s not working on film, television and stage roles, Bako keeps herself busy by writing, dancing and taking kickboxing classes. Bako maintains homes in Los Angeles and New York.