The mobster and the shrink - interview with actors James Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco - Interview

JG: Well, I don't know if this is part of an Italian's makeup, but there was a show called The Italian Americans [1998] that talked about Italians as perfectionists. I think a lot of Italians are like that - that's what makes them so angry about things. But the reason I think the show has done well is that we did it well. I mean, it talks about humans. It's not like, "Look at these Italians," you know? It's "Look at these people," because of their families. Everyone's got a daughter like Meadow, I don't care who you are.

LB: I have two of them.

JG: Yeah. Who probably give you shit like Meadow does her folks. And everyone's got a problem with their mother.

LB: Is it true that when you read the script for The Sopranos, you turned to your girlfriend of the time and said, "I just read the role I was born to play, but I'll never get it"?

JG: I think my exact words were, "I could kick this guy right in the ass, but I'll never get cast. They'll hire some fucking pretty boy." I thought they'd hire, you know, one of these Irish-looking guys who are all over TV now. So I was shocked when I got the part.

LB: I've seen you in other things but the first time you stopped me was in She's So Lovely [1997]. I went back to the credits - "Who the fuck is this guy?"

JG: I've seen you in a million things. And I couldn't believe when they got you for this part. I was like, "Oh, man. Fucking great. Cheers."

LB: [laughs] But do you think I was wrong in taking the part?

JG: No. Why?

LB: I'd said to David, "Would you consider meeting me for Melfi, 'cause I've done the Mob wife [referring to her role in GoodFellas] and I'm afraid that I can't do It better." And I'm a different girl now.

JG: I couldn't play another thug. It's the same kind of thing. Not to sound like a pretentious ass, but if you don't do something different, you don't grow. If you don't challenge yourself, then you don't find anything interesting.

LB: You want to know something about The Sopranos that shocked me?

JG: No.

LB: It was when you guys go to that naked bar place. I was like, "Oh, my God!"

JG: The titty bar?

LB: Yeah, I was horrified.

JG: Why?

LB: It's like I forgot that that was how men are.

JG: You need to get out more often. What are you talking about?

LB: Why are men like that?

JG: Because it makes you feel like a . . . I don't know.

LB: What does it give you? Testosteroni? What?

JG: [laughs] Yeah, Testosteroni, kinda like a pasta.

LB: What? What is it?

JG: Um, I don't know. I guess it's a safe place to look at women.

LB: I'm trying to zero in here on the fact that I'm forty-four years old, and I was shocked.

JG: You act like everyone goes there once a week.

LB: In the series you go there once a week.

JG: Well, Silvio [a member of Tony's crew, played by Stevie Van Zandt] owns the place. Why did Tony pick a woman psychiatrist?

LB: Why?

JG: Because any chance of getting in someone's pants, he will go for.

LB: Oh, really?

JG: Uh-huh.

LB: Is that a part of your like, you know . . .