Lorraine Bracco (; born October 2, 1954) is an American actress best known for her performance as psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi on the HBO crime drama series The Sopranos (1999–2007) and for her breakthrough role portraying Karen Hill in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas (1990). Bracco began her career modeling in France and appeared in Italian-language films in the 1980s. Her English-language debut came in The Pick-up Artist (1987), which was followed by roles in Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), Sing (1989), and The Dream Team (1989). She has been nominated for an Academy Award, three Actor Awards, four Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.
Early life
Bracco was born on October 2, 1954, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. She is the daughter of Eileen ( Molyneux) and Salvatore S. Bracco Sr. She has a sister, actress Elizabeth Bracco, and a brother, Salvatore Jr. Her father was of Italian descent, while her mother was born in England, and had some French ancestry. Her parents met during World War II, marrying in Andover in 1946; Eileen would then come back with Salvatore to the United States. Bracco grew up in Hicksville, New York, on Long Island, from fourth grade, and graduated from Hicksville High School in 1972.
Career 1974–1989: Rise to prominence Bracco moved to France in 1974, where she became a fashion model for Jean-Paul Gaultier. She lived there for about a decade. While still modeling, Bracco was approached by Marc Camoletti, who offered her a major role in the film adaptation of one of his plays, Duos sur canapé (1979). Bracco did not imagine that she could be an actress, and initially refused. She eventually made the film, but found the experience "boring" and her performance "terrible." Nevertheless, she played supporting roles in two other French films "for the money."
After one of her friends suggested that she might enjoy acting if she took some training, she took seminars with John Strasberg. Although she loved the lessons, she was still unsure of her talents.Bracco, On the Couch During the 1980s, she worked as a disc jockey for Radio Luxembourg. She also appeared as Paul Guilfoyle's hostage in the first season of the series Crime Story, in the episode "Hide and Go Thief". Her sister Elizabeth played a coffee shop waitress in the series pilot.
Eventually, Italian director and novelist Lina Wertmüller gave Bracco a small part in the film Camorra. "She dressed me up like an Italian woman of no means. A street woman clad in disheveled clothes, hair unkempt and all that, and threw me on the set. She was so creative. I mean, Lina accentuated my eyes with dark make-up, the way Sophia Loren used to appear in those epic roles in the '60s. And talk about talent. She's so bright and perceptive. I mean, she's just fantastic. And yes, I learned a lot from her. She's a master of her profession, and I've been blessed not only with her, but also with so many masters," recounted Bracco to Daniel Simone during a 2007 interview. The experience inspired Bracco to pursue acting.
1990–2007: Goodfellas and The Sopranos
Bracco received her big career break when she was offered the role of mobster wife Karen Hill in the Martin Scorsese directed crime drama Goodfellas (1990). Her performance earned her Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her other films include Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), Switch (1991), Medicine Man (1992), Radio Flyer (1992), Hackers (1995), The Basketball Diaries (1995), and Riding in Cars with Boys (2001).
During the audition process for The Sopranos, David Chase wanted Bracco to audition for the lead female role of Carmela Soprano. However, Bracco had read the script and was drawn to the part of psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi as she wanted to try something different and felt that the part of the highly educated Dr. Melfi would be more of a challenge for her. Bracco felt so strongly about her ability and desire to play the part that she arranged a meeting with Chase and talked him into letting her have a chance as Melfi. The role netted her three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1999, 2000, and 2001, and at the Golden Globes for Best TV Actress in a Drama in 2000, 2001, and 2002. She lost out at the Emmys in 1999 and 2001, and at the Golden Globes in 2000 to her co-star Edie Falco. She was nominated again at the 2007 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and thus was pitted against her The Sopranos co-star Aida Turturro for the award.
2008–present Bracco is the owner of Bracco Wines, in association with Straight-Up Brands LLC. Her line of wines was featured on the Season 1 finale of Bravo's show Top Chef in 2006. She appeared as a guest judge for the show's two-episode finale and as a special judge on Top Chef: All-Stars, in the episode titled "An Offer They Can't Refuse", which featured Italian cuisine. Bracco also appeared on a season 6 episode of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, as a guest judge for the ravioli throwdown. From 2010 to 2016, Bracco co-starred on the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles as Angela Rizzoli, mother of Jane Rizzoli, portrayed by Angie Harmon. She appeared in all 105 episodes of the series over its seven-season run. Beginning in 2016, Bracco had a recurring role as Toni on the Showtime comedy series Dice. In 2017–2018, she had a five-episode recurring role as Mayor Margaret Dutton in the CBS police drama series Blue Bloods.
Also in 2020, Bracco starred in the HGTV documentary television series My Big Italian Adventure. Shot in Sambuca di Sicilia, it chronicled her renovation of a 200-year-old house she purchased for €1 at Via Guglielmo Marconi. In 2022, Bracco worked in the Robert Zemeckis remake of Pinocchio where she voiced Sofia the Seagull. In 2023, Bracco starred in Waheed AlQawasmi's debut film Jacir as Meryl, an opioid addicted next-door neighbor of a Syrian refugee living in poverty in Memphis, Tennessee, delivering an emotionally charged performance that was dubbed "her best performance since Goodfellas."
Personal life Bracco married Frenchman Daniel Guerard in 1979; they divorced in 1982. They have one daughter, actress Margaux Guerard.Geraldine Fabrikant, Bankruptcy? Tougher Than Counseling a Soprano, January 1, 2006
Bracco was in a 12-year relationship with actor Harvey Keitel, whom she met while living in Paris. They have one daughter, Stella Keitel (born 1985). Bracco and Keitel fought a lengthy custody battle over Stella, resulting in Bracco's depression and $2 million in legal fees.
The end of Bracco and Keitel's relationship in 1993 was triggered by her affair with actor Edward James Olmos, her co-star in A Talent for the Game. Bracco and Olmos were then married in 1994 and divorced in 2002.
Bracco is a practitioner of Shotokan Karate. In 2015, she wrote a self help book, To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate, and Be the Best You Can Be.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes1979Duos sur canapéBubble1980What Did I Ever Do to the Good Lord toDeserve a Wife Who Drinks in Cafes with Men?Barbara Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au bon Dieupour avoir une femme qui boit dans les cafés avec les hommes?1981Fais gaffe à la gaffe!Margaux1985CamorraUncredited Un complicato intrigo di donne, vicoli e delitti1987The Pick-up ArtistCarlaSomeone to Watch Over MeEllie Keegan1989SingMiss LombardoThe Dream TeamRileyUp to DateSheilaSea of LoveDenice GruberScenes deleted1990GoodfellasKaren Friedman Hill1991Talent for the GameBobbieSwitchSheila Faxton1992Medicine ManDr. Rae CraneRadio FlyerMaryTraces of RedEllen Schofield1993Even Cowgirls Get the BluesDelores Del Ruby1994Being HumanAnna1995The Basketball DiariesMrs. CarrollHackersMargo Wallace1996The LiarsHelene Miller Les Menteurs1997Silent CradleHelen Greg2000Ladies RoomGemma2001Riding in Cars with BoysTeresa DonofrioTangledDet. Anne Andersle2003Death of a DynastyEnchante R&B Singer #22005Crazy for LoveSheila2011Son of MorningLeda2012The Bensonhurst Spelling BeeUnknownShort film2016Monday Nights at SevenDamian Robertson2019Master MaggieMaggieShort film2020A Ring for ChristmasMargaret Moore2021The Birthday CakeSofia2022Disney's PinocchioSofia the Seagull (voice)JACIR جاسرMeryl2024The UnionLorraine McKennaMonster SummerMiss HalversonRich FluMartha2025NonnasRoberta2025The Mother, the Menacer, and MeNancy
Television Year Title Role Notes1980Commissaire MoulinJennyEpisode: "Le transfuge"1986Crime StoryHostageEpisode: "Hide and Go Thief"1993ScamMaggie RohrerTV movie1994Getting GottiDiane Giacalone1996ReckoningKits Maitland1998The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeDet. Ray1999–2007The SopranosJennifer MelfiMain role2001Sex in Our CenturyNarratorTV movie2003Custody of the HeartClaire Raphael2005Law & Order: Trial by JuryKarla GrizanoEpisode: "Vigilante"2006Top ChefHerself/Guest JudgeSeason 1, Episode 12: "Finale Part Two"2007SnowglobeRose MorenoTV movie2008Long Island ConfidentialNorah LarkinLipstick JungleJanice Lasher2 episodes2010Law & Order: Criminal IntentHalfway House MatronEpisode: "Disciple"2010–2016Rizzoli & IslesAngela RizzoliMain role2011I Married a MobsterNarrator10 episodesTop ChefHerself/Guest JudgeEpisode: "An Offer They Can't Refuse"2014MulaneyVaughnEpisode: "Sweet Jane"2016DiceToni2 episodesBoJack HorsemanDr. Janet (voice)2017–2018Blue BloodsMayor Margaret Dutton6 episodes2018Summer Camp IslandThe Werewolf Queen (voice)Episode: "Hedgehog Werewolf"2019The Dead Wives ClubHerself/host6 episodes2019–2023JerkTim's mother12 episodes2020AJ and the QueenHerselfEpisode: "Baton Rouge"My Big Italian AdventureHerself/host3 episodes (HGTV)2022Welcome to Mama'sMaria "Mama" TucciTV movie; AKA The Perfect Recipe 2024 Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos Herself Episode: "Part 1 & 2"
Theater Year Title Role Venue Ref.2003 The Graduate Mrs. Robinson (replacement) Plymouth Theatre, Broadway
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result 1990 Academy Awards Best Supporting ActressGoodfellasrowspan=2 1990 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture 1990 Chicago Film Critics AssociationBest Supporting Actressrowspan=2 1990 Los Angeles Film Critics Association 1990 New York Film Critics Circle rowspan=9 1999Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series The Sopranos (episode: "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti") 2000 The Sopranos (episode: "Big Girls Don't Cry") 2001 The Sopranos (episode: "Employee of the Month") 2007 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Sopranos (episode: "The Blue Comet") 1999Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Drama The Sopranos (season 1) 2000 The Sopranos (season 2) 2001 The Sopranos (season 3) 1999Actor Awards Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama SeriesThe Sopranos (season 1) Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series 2000 The Sopranos (season 2) rowspan=7 2001 Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama SeriesThe Sopranos (season 3) Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series2002 Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama SeriesThe Sopranos (season 4) Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series 2004 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series The Sopranos (season 5) 2006 The Sopranos (season 6 - Part 1) 2007 The Sopranos (season 6 - Part 2) 2000 Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Drama The Sopranosrowspan=5 2008 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actress – Drama Series The Sopranos1993Razzie AwardsWorst Actress Medicine Man Traces of Red2023 Worst Supporting Actress Walt Disney's Pinocchio Reel East Texas Film Festival Best Actress – Feature Film Jacir
Bibliography
See also List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
References
External links
Lorraine Bracco at the archive.org copy of the-sopranos.com