The Sopranos actress Lorraine Bracco looks unrecognizable in a new HBO documentary about the hit show.
The actress, now 69, played Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the series, which ran from 1999 to 2007.
Melfi worked as a psychiatrist for mob boss Tony Soprano, played by the late actor James Gandolfini.
HBO released the first installment of the two-part documentary, Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, on September 7. The documentary gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s creator.
Bracco, who received four Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations for her role as Dr. Melfi, appeared to look completely different in a sneak peek of the documentary.
Morraine Bracco played Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the series, which aired from 1999 to 2007.
The woman, now 69, confidently sports her grey hair.
Bracco’s character, Dr. Melfi, worked as a psychiatrist for mob boss Tony Soprano, played by the late actor James Gandolfini.
In the trailer, Bracco is seen confidently sporting gray hair and without the glasses he wore on the show.
In the trailer, Bracco shared that she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, even though Chase originally wanted her to play Tony’s wife, Carmela.
She turned down the role, saying she had already played a mobster’s wife in the film Goodfellas.
Lorraine remembered The HuffPostI fell in love with David (Chase) the moment I met him. As soon as I walked into the room, I was like, “I like this guy.”
“And I said, ‘Look, I don’t think I should play Carmela, because I’ve already done it. I did it in a Scorsese movie. I got an Oscar nomination.
“I really don’t think I can bring you much more than what I’ve already done.”
“I said, ‘But I really love this script and I want to play Melfi.'”
Bracco received four Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations for her role as Dr. Melfi.
Bracco shared that she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, even though show creator David Chase originally wanted her to play Tony’s wife.
Actress Edie Falco ended up getting the role of Carmela.
In 2013, the cast was devastated to learn of Gandolfini’s death, who passed away from a heart attack at the age of 51.
Bracco called him ‘loving, caring, sweet, funny, a joker,’ in an interview with HuffPost.
“It was devastating. He was a talented young man, at the top of his career, at the top of his life, with a beautiful wife, a baby, kids and (his son) Michael. It was really shocking to me,” she said.
Since The Sopranos aired, Bracco has starred in many television and film projects, including Rizzoli & Isles and Blue Bloods.
In 2024, she appeared in the action comedy The Union, starring Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg.
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