Cathy Moriarty

 When Cathy Moriarty was 18 years old, her friends urged her to enter a bathing-beauty contest at a bar: "So, I go in there, and my knees are shaking, and I'm breaking out in goose bumps 'cause I'm embarrassed and cold. All these guys are whistling and stuff. Then all of a sudden the emcee announces I won first prize, and I say, 'Hey, this is really funny.' So this Italian guy comes up and asks if he can take my picture and I say, 'Sure, go ahead', 'cause he's gonna take it anyway. And whad'd'ya know, this same guy calls me three weeks later, says his name is Joe Pesci and asks if I'd like to test for a part in this movie about a boxer named Jake LaMotta."

The role of Jake LaMotta's wife in "Raging Bull" (1980) was the last to be cast. Moriarty was working as a desk girl and waitress in a burger restaurant, with only a few high school stage plays on her resume, but it was felt that she had the right amount of attitude for the part. Moriarty's performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

"Robert De Niro taught me how to listen, and how to be part of the conversation. It's not just about reading your lines and saying what's in the script, you have to understand your character, along with the other characters so that you can always respond."

The scene where Vicki LaMotta is first introduced to Jake LaMotta by the chain-linked fence was completely improvised by Moriarty and De Niro.

Moriarty's hair was set with corn syrup, which caused problems in the exterior scenes, because bees were attracted to it.

"Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese were so exceptionally loving to me and so concerned and so caring that I will always be grateful to them."

Happy Birthday, Cathy Moriarty!