Annabella Sciorra was born on March 29, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrant parents. Her mother was a fashion stylist from Formia, Lazio, and her father a veterinarian from Carunchio, Abruzzo.

Annabella Sciorra studied dance as a child and later took drama lessons at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her professional debut in 1988 with a small part in the television miniseries The Fortunate Pilgrim.

She landed her first major film role starring as Donna in True Love (1989), a romantic comedy-drama that won the Grand Jury Prize at that year's Sundance Festival. Her performance was praised by critics, and she earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead the following year.

In 1991, Annabella Sciorra garnered widespread attention with her portrayal of Angie Tucci in the acclaimed Spike Lee drama Jungle Fever. She continued to work steadily throughout the 1990s, appearing in films such as The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), The Addiction (1995), Cop Land (1997), and What Dreams May Come (1998).

She received an Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Gloria Trillo on The Sopranos (2001-2004) and appeared as Detective Carolyn Barek on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2005-2006). She also had recurring roles on GLOW (2018), Truth Be Told (2019-2020), and Tulsa King (2022).

Annabella Sciorra was married to actor Joe Petruzzi from 1989 to 1993, and they divorced. She later dated actor Bobby Cannavale for three years, from 2004 to 2007.