Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco is unrecognizable in new documentary about hit HBO series
Sopranos actor Lorraine Bracco looks unrecognizable in a new HBO documentary about the hit series.
The now 69-year-old 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 part 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 creator of the series.
Bracco, who received four Emmy nominations and four Gold Globe nominations for her role as Dr. Melfi, appeared to look completely different in a teaser for the documentary.
Morraine Bracco played Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the series, which ran from 1999 to 2007
The now 69-year-old is seen confident with gray hair
Bracco’s character, Dr. Melfi, was a psychiatrist for mob boss Tony Soprano, played by the late actor James Gandolfini
In the trailer, Bracco can be seen with confident gray hair and without the glasses she wore in the series.
In the teaser, Bracco said she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, despite Chase originally wanting her to play Tony’s wife, Carmela.
She turned down the role, saying she had already played a gangster’s wife in the film Goodfellas.
Lorraine remembered HuffPost: ‘I fell in love with David [Chase] the moment I met him – when I walked into the room. I said, “I like this guy.”
‘And I said, ‘Look, I don’t think I should play Carmela, because I’ve done it. I’ve done it in a Scorsese movie. I got an Oscar nomination.
“I really don’t think there’s much I can do for you that I haven’t already done.”
“I said, ‘But I really love this script, and I want to play Melfi.’”
Bracco received four Emmy nominations and four Gold Globe nominations for her role as Dr. Melfi
Bracco said she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, despite series creator David Chase originally wanting her to play Tony’s wife
Actress Edie Falco eventually got the role of Carmela.
In 2013, the cast was shocked to hear of Gandolfini’s death. He died of 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 – young man, talented, at the height of his career, at the height of his life with a beautiful wife and baby, and children, and [his son] Michael, it was a real shock to me,’ she said.
Since The Sopranos aired, Bracco has appeared in many television and film productions, including Rizzoli & Isles and Blue Bloods.
In 2024, she appeared in the action film The Union, starring Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg.