Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Lorraine Bracco Embarks on Dating Journey in Her 70s
Lorraine Bracco, celebrated for her role as Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the iconic HBO series “The Sopranos,” is stepping into the dating scene as she embraces her 70s. In a recent interview, the acclaimed actress, also known for her memorable performance in “Goodfellas,” discussed her perspective on romance and outlined the qualities she seeks in a partner.
Embracing Single Life and Future Romance
“I’m single, and I’m sure someone will arrive,” Bracco stated, expressing optimism about her love life.
She affirmed her belief in love, emphasizing the importance of specific traits in a potential companion. “What do I look for in a man? A sense of humor is extremely important. And I appreciate a man who is self-assured.”
Bracco further elaborated, “I’m secure in myself, so I desire him to be rock steady.”
Past Marriages and Relationships
The “Goodfellas” star has been married twice previously. Her first marriage was to Daniel Guerard, a French salon proprietor she encountered while working as a model in Paris. They married after Bracco became pregnant.
Recounting a conversation from that time in a 2006 ABC News interview, Bracco said, “Basically, he said, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’”
She responded, “And I said, ‘Well, where I come from, you get married, and you have the child.’ And he very happily said, ‘OK. Let’s do it,’” she recalled.
Bracco and Guerard wed in 1979, welcoming their daughter Margaux that same year. They later divorced in 1982.
“What do I look for in a man? A sense of humor is extremely important. And I like a guy who’s sure of himself. I’m sure of myself, so I want him to be rock steady.”
Lorraine Bracco
Following her divorce from Guerard, Bracco began a relationship with Oscar-nominated actor Harvey Keitel. Bracco described Keitel to ABC News as “very intense.”
“I was seduced,” she admitted.
Bracco and Keitel, parents to daughter Stella, 39, were together for 11 years. Their relationship concluded in 1993 after Bracco confessed to an affair with her “A Talent for the Game” co-star, Edward James Olmos, whom she subsequently married the next year.
“He hated me for it. I disgusted him,” Bracco recounted to ABC about confessing to Keitel about the affair. “That was the beginning of the end. And I knew that. And maybe it was my way, my very immature un-Dr. Melfi-ish way to end that relationship.”
Custody Battle and Personal Challenges
After their separation, Bracco and Keitel engaged in a protracted custody dispute over Stella. Bracco eventually gained sole custody, but the legal battle resulted in $2 million in legal fees. This ordeal also strained Bracco’s marriage to Olmos, leading to their separation in 2002.
In the aftermath of the custody proceedings, Bracco battled depression and sought professional help in 1997, around the time she was cast in “The Sopranos.”
“I lost a year of my life to depression, and my advice to anyone experiencing it is to find a good doctor, get diagnosed, and understand that medication is effective — don’t be afraid of it,” Bracco advised. “The stigma initially deterred me. Foolish. And talk therapy is crucial. You are worthy of it, you are worthy of having a good day, every day.”
“The Sopranos” and Career Reflections
David Chase, creator of “The Sopranos,” initially envisioned Bracco for the role of Carmela Soprano, wife of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), when he invited her to audition.
Bracco had previously earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Karen Hill in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 film “Goodfellas.”
However, Bracco declined the role of Carmela, expressing interest in playing Dr. Melfi. In a 2020 interview, Bracco explained her decision to reject the Carmela role, which ultimately went to Edie Falco.
“Look, Carmela was a great character,” she acknowledged. “When I read the script, I said, ‘I don’t really want to play Carmela.’ I wanted to play Melfi, because it was a departure for me and not just another mob wife. David was like, ‘Really?’ He was surprised I wanted to play Melfi, because it was a smaller part and not the lead. But I said, ‘Yes, I could do a very good job.’”
From 1999 to 2001, Bracco received three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her depiction of Dr. Melfi, along with Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
In 2000, she lost the Emmy to her co-star Edie Falco. Bracco was later nominated for Best Supporting Actress Emmy in 2007 for her portrayal of Dr. Melfi in the final season of “The Sopranos.”
In a 2006 interview, Bracco revealed how starring in “The Sopranos” relieved some of the financial strain from her custody battle.
“The show was a blessing,” she said. “It provides immense financial stability. It meant I could think, ‘Oh, my God! I can work next year; I don’t really have to worry.’”
Lasting Impact of “The Sopranos”
Bracco starred in the acclaimed series throughout its six seasons, from 1999 to 2007. She shared that fans still recognize her for her role in the celebrated show.
“Last year was the 25th anniversary of ‘The Sopranos,’ and people still call out, ‘Hey, Doc!’ when they see me on the street,” she mentioned. “I love it. It signifies that my role as Dr. Melfi resonated with them.”
However, Bracco noted that her nostalgia for some of her famous projects is often tinged with sadness following the deaths of James Gandolfini and Ray Liotta. Gandolfini passed away in June 2013 at 51, and Liotta died in May 2022 at 67.
“When I think about [‘The Sopranos’] I don’t focus on the success — I think about what I lost,” she confided. “I lost Jimmy.”
She added, “And for ‘Goodfellas’ — which was 35 years ago — I lost Ray Liotta. I lost two individuals whom I worked with, whom I admired, who I would eagerly embrace whenever I saw them. That’s what comes to mind.”
Venturing into Comedy with “Nonnas”
For her latest venture, Bracco has explored comedy for the first time in her career, starring as Roberta in the upcoming Netflix movie “Nonnas.” The film follows Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn) “who realizes he’s wasted time as a single man at a dead-end job and yearns for a second chance, so he opens a restaurant and hires a group of grandmothers as chefs,” according to the synopsis.
“I’ve never, ever done a comedy before, so this was significant for me. I was apprehensive; I didn’t know where to begin,” Bracco admitted.
She continued, “The director (Stephen Chbosky) gave me these unflattering glasses, and I said: ‘I look terrible, what are you doing to me?’ He said, ‘Lorraine, trust me.’ He was hysterical, laughing behind the camera. Vince Vaughn kept saying, ‘Lorraine, you’re doing great! Just commit! Believe!’”
“It’s a character that, never in a million years, I thought I’d play,” Bracco concluded.
Embracing Grandmotherhood and a Fun-Filled Future
Meanwhile, Bracco shared her enjoyment of being a grandmother to her daughter Margaux’s two children.
“Being a grandmother is so much fun, because you relive a part of you that’s been dormant for a while,” she expressed. “We play, we read, we converse. As long as I can get down on the floor and get back up again, I’m good.”
As she enters her 70s, Bracco is upholding a promise she made to herself two decades earlier.
“I made a deal with myself when I turned 50,” she said. “More fun, more fun, more fun!”