Cara Buono's journey in the entertainment industry began as a young girl growing up in New York City, where she drew inspiration from her family's strong work ethic. Without the support of friends, family, or mentors, she took matters into her own hands, scouring trade papers for casting calls and sneaking into auditions. Her determination paid off when she landed a role in Harvey Fierstein's play "SpookHouse" despite her lack of experience.
As her career continued to blossom, Cara transitioned to stage work both on and off-Broadway, and made her film debut opposite Ethan Hawke and Jeremy Irons in Waterland (1992). Her subsequent work was largely focused on independent films, including Chutney Popcorn (1999),Happy Accidents (2000),Next Stop Wonderland (1998),and Two Ninas (1999),which she also co-produced.
Beyond acting, Cara has explored her creative talents by directing, producing, and writing films. One notable achievement was her short film Baggage (1997),which starred Liev Schreiber. She co-wrote the screenplay "When The Cat's Away" (1999) with Brad Anderson and secured a deal with Miramax for a screenplay adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's work.
In recent years, Cara played the lead role of Grace Foster, a headstrong paramedic with an unbridled ego, on the final season of the NBC drama Third Watch (1999). Her impressive performance was a testament to her versatility as an actress.
Cara's academic background is equally impressive, having graduated from Columbia University with a double major in English and Political Science in just three years. Her dedication to her studies and her blue-collar work ethic have undoubtedly played a significant role in her success in both the entertainment industry and her personal life.
