It's been 26 years since Maria Bello presided over one of the most famous bars in movie history in Coyote Ugly – and the actress looks as incredible as ever.
Maria, 59, was spotted on the set of Grown Ups 3 in Keansburg, New Jersey, on Friday, August 28 2026, as she prepared to reprise her role as Sally Lamonsoff in the much-loved comedy franchise.
The actress looked radiant with her blonde hair styled half-up as she wore a pretty floral blouse, gold hoop earrings and a delicate heart necklace.
© GC ImagesHer latest appearance comes after a busy month for the star. Earlier in August, Maria stepped out at Netflix's Don't Say Good Luck premiere in New York, looking elegant in a black spaghetti-strap dress with her hair slicked back.
Days earlier, she opted for an altogether different look at the premiere of I Want Your Sex, pairing a cream satin slip dress with a relaxed black blazer and wearing her blonde hair loose around her shoulders.
For many fans, however, Maria will forever be Lil Lovell, the no-nonsense owner of the Coyote Ugly bar who gives aspiring songwriter Violet Sanford, played by Piper Perabo, a job in the 2000 cult classic.
© Getty ImagesThe movie, which also starred Tyra Banks, Bridget Moynahan, Adam Garcia and John Goodman, became a surprise box-office hit and has retained a devoted following more than two decades later.
Ironically, Maria later revealed that despite being just 32 when the movie was made, she had wanted to join her younger co-stars dancing on the bar – only to be told she was "too old".
Maria went on to build an impressive career far beyond the walls of Coyote Ugly, earning acclaim for movies including The Cooler, A History of Violence, Prisoners and The Woman King.
© Getty ImagesOn television, she played psychologist and former army lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane on NCIS, before earning an Emmy nomination for her performance in Netflix hit BEEF. More recently, she starred opposite Holt McCallany as family matriarch Belle Buckley in Netflix drama The Waterfront.
Now she's returning to another fan-favourite role, reuniting with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Maya Rudolph and Salma Hayek Pinault for Grown Ups 3.
The third instalment is currently filming in New Jersey and will see the friends embark on a new adventure now that their children are grown up. Netflix has yet to announce its release date.
© Getty ImagesAway from Hollywood, Maria is mom to son Jackson, 25, whom she shares with her former partner Dan McDermott.
The actress married acclaimed French chef Dominique Crenn in a star-studded ceremony in Mexico in May 2024 after several years together. Maria filed for divorce a year later, in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.
And with another Grown Ups movie now underway, Maria's career appears to have come full circle – more than a quarter of a century after Lil first welcomed moviegoers into the Coyote Ugly bar.
