Lorraine Bracco is tough and proud. Born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (her mom an English war bride, her dad an old-fashioned Italian), Long Island-bred, the 48-year-old actress soared from ugly duckling to Paris fashion model before breaking into a movie career that includes roles in hits like Ridley Scott’s Someone to Watch Over Me, Blake Edwards’ Switch, Gus Van Sant’s Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, and most notably Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, which landed her an Oscar nomination for her role as a mobster’s wife.
Today, Bracco is a household name due to her TV portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi in HBO’s mega-hit The Sopranos (she used her own shrink as inspiration), which has earned her numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She’s been married three times, including actors Harvey Keitel and Daniel Guerard, and most recently divorced from actor Edward James Olmos. The Sheet talked to Bracco following her Broadway debut in The Graduate as she stepped into the infamous role of Mrs. Robinson (replacing Kathleen Turner). And not unlike Mrs. Robinson, Bracco pulls no punches when it comes to telling it like it is …
"I’m clueless when it comes to men."
Hampton Sheet:
Having fun as Mrs. Robinson?
Lorraine Bracco:
Yes, I’m having much more fun now than last week. I settled into the role a little more, so I’m really happy now. Opening night isn’t easy, and doing the show is a mini-marathon. You run around all over the place, you’re changing left and right. It’s very different from making a movie or The Sopranos...
HS:
What’s the difference?
LB:
The whole medium is night and day. On stage we make mistakes and keep on going. It’s a lot of fun and a challenge.
HS:
It’s like creating something around a mistake, and you’re very creative, so I guess you can work that out.
LB:
Absolutely. And the best part is, so can my co-star John Lavelle, who’s adorable.
HS:
Speaking of John, I heard he went to school with your daughter. Is it strange to play a seductive role with him?
LB:
Well, they didn’t really know each other, they just had a lot of friends in common. But it’s funny to be acting with him—it’s weird. But my daughter is okay with it.
"My motto is ‘More fun.’"
HS:
How did you mentally prepare for the nude scenes? It’s not like a 20-year-old taking off her clothes. Is it scary?
LB:
It was a lot less scary than I thought. John and I—and the director Peter Lawrence—handled it very well. We did it gradually, and the nudity is just very much a part of who the character is and how she gets things. I felt very free with it.
HS:
So you’re comfortable in your skin.
SA:
You got that right.
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