Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954)[1] is an American actress. She
is best known for her performances as Dr.
Jennifer Melfi
Jennifer Melfi on the HBO
series The Sopranos, and as
Karen Friedman Hill in the 1990 Martin
Scorsese film Goodfellas, for which she was nominated for the Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Filmography
4.1 Film
4.2 Television
5 Awards and nominations
6 Bibliography
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
Early life[edit]
Bracco as a senior in high school in 1972
Bracco was born in the
Brooklyn
Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge. She is the
daughter of Eileen (née Molyneux 1926–2010) and Salvatore Bracco,
Sr. She has a sister, Elizabeth Bracco, and brother, Salvatore Jr. Her
mother was from
England
England and met her father during World War II. Eileen
came with Salvatore to the United States as a war bride.[2][3] Bracco
grew up in Westbury, on Maxwell Drive on Long Island. She graduated
from Hicksville High School in 1972. Her father was of Italian
descent, while her mother was born in
England
England to French parents.[4][5]
Bracco is fluent in English, French and Italian.
Career[edit]
In 1974, Bracco moved to France, where she became a fashion model for
Jean-Paul Gaultier. She lived there for about a decade.[6]
While still modeling, Bracco was approached by Marc Camoletti who
offered her one 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 a friend of hers had suggested that she might
enjoy acting if she took some training, she followed seminars with
John Strasberg. Although she loved the lessons, she was still unsure
of her talents.[7]
During the 1980s, she also worked as a disc jockey for Radio
Luxembourg. She appeared as Paul Guilfoyle's hostage in the first
season Crime Story episode, "Hide and Go Thief". Her sister Elizabeth
played a hostage in the series pilot. Eventually, Italian director and
novelist
Lina Wertmüller
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
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.[6]
Her other films include Someone to Watch Over Me, Riding in Cars with
Boys, The Basketball Diaries, Medicine Man, Radio Flyer and Hackers.
Bracco received her big career break when offered the role as the
mobster-wife Karen Hill in Goodfellas, which earned her an Academy
Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe
nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. She won the
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting
Actress.
Bracco is the owner of Bracco Wines, with association of Straight-Up
Brands LLC.[8] Her line of wines was featured on the Season 1 finale
of Bravo's show
Top Chef
Top Chef in 2006. She appeared as a guest judge for
the two-episode finale.[9] She also appeared as a special judge on Top
Chef: All Stars in the episode titled "An Offer They Can't Refuse",
which featured Italian cuisine.[10] Bracco appeared on a season 6
episode of
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as a guest judge for the ravioli
throwdown.[11]
During the audition process for The Sopranos, David Chase wanted her
to read for the lead female role of Carmela Soprano. However, Bracco
had read the script and was drawn to the part of psychiatrist Dr.
Jennifer Melfi. Bracco felt strongly enough about her ability and
desire to play this part that she arranged a meeting with David Chase
and talked him into letting her have a chance as Dr. Melfi.[12] It
netted her three consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress
in a Drama Series at the
Emmy Awards
Emmy Awards in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and at the
Golden Globe
Golden Globe awards 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
Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Series, thus being pitted against
The Sopranos
The Sopranos co-star Aida Turturro
for the award.
In October 2015, it was announced that Bracco would guest star
opposite
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody on the upcoming Showtime comedy series Dice.[13]
Personal life[edit]
Bracco married Daniel Guerard in 1979, divorcing in 1982. They have
one daughter, Margaux Guerard.[14] She was in a 12-year relationship
with actor Harvey Keitel, whom she met while living in Paris. They
have one daughter, Stella Keitel (b. 1985). Bracco and Keitel fought a
lengthy custody battle over Stella, resulting in Bracco's depression,
a loss of acting roles, and $2 million in legal fees.[15][16] She
married
Edward James Olmos
.jpg/440px-Edward_James_Olmos_at_Filly_Brown_Miami_premiere_(cropped).jpg)
Edward James Olmos in 1994, divorcing in 2002.[14]
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco is a practitioner of Shotokan Karate.[16] In 2015, she
authored a self help book To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan
to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate, and Be the Best You Can Be.[17]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1979
Duos sur canapé
Bubble
1980
What Did I Ever Do to the Good Lord to Deserve
a Wife Who Drinks in Cafes with Men?
(Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au bon Dieu pour avoir une femme
qui boit dans les cafés avec les hommes ?)
Barbara
1981
Fais gaffe à la gaffe!
Margaux
1985
Camorra
(Un complicato intrigo di donne, vicoli e delitti)
(uncredited)
1987
Pick-Up Artist, TheThe Pick-Up Artist
Carla
Someone to Watch Over Me
Ellie Keegan
1989
Sing
Miss Lombardo
Dream Team, TheThe Dream Team
Riley
Up to Date
Sheila
Sea of Love
Denice Gruber
Scenes deleted
1990
Goodfellas
Karen Friedman Hill
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress (3rd
place)
Nominated—
Academy Award
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion
Picture
1991
Talent for the Game
Bobbie
Switch
Sheila Faxton
1992
Medicine Man
Dr. Rae Crane
Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
Radio Flyer
Mary
Traces of Red
Ellen Schofield
Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
1993
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Delores Del Ruby
1994
Being Human
Anna
1995
Basketball Diaries, TheThe Basketball Diaries
Mrs. Carroll
Hackers
Margo Wallace
1996
Liars, TheThe Liars
(Les Menteurs)
Helene Miller
1997
Silent Cradle
Helen Greg
2000
Ladies Room
Gemma
2001
Riding in Cars with Boys
Mrs. Teresa Donofrio
Tangled
Det. Anne Andersle
2003
Death of a Dynasty
Enchante R&B Singer #2
2005
Crazy for Love
Sheila
2011
Son of Morning
Leda
2012
Bensonhurst Spelling Bee, TheThe Bensonhurst Spelling Bee
Unknown
Short film
2016
Monday Nights at Seven
Damian Robertson
Television[edit]
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1980
Commissaire Moulin
Jenny
Episode: "Le transfuge"
1986
Crime Story
Hostage
Episode: "Hide and Go Thief"
1993
Scam
Maggie Rohrer
Television movie
1994
Getting Gotti
Diane Giacalone
Television movie
1996
Reckoning
Kits Maitland
Television movie
1998
Taking of Pelham One Two Three, TheThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Det. Ray
Television movie
1999–2007
Sopranos, TheThe Sopranos
Dr. Jennifer Melfi
69 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
in a Drama Series (2000, 2008)
Nominated—
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series
Drama (2000–02)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a
Drama Series (2000–02)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in
a Drama Series
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series
Drama
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a
Female Actor in a Drama Series (2000, 2002–03)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by
an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2001–03, 2005, 2007)
2001
Sex in Our Century
Narrator
Television movie
2003
Custody of the Heart
Claire Raphael
Television movie
2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Karla Grizano
Episode: "Vigilante"
2007
Snowglobe
Rose Moreno
Television movie
2008
Long Island
Long Island Confidential
Norah Larkin
Television movie
Lipstick Jungle
Janice Lasher
2 episodes
2010
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Halfway House Matron
Episode: "Disciple"
2010–2016
Rizzoli & Isles
Angela Rizzoli
101 episodes
2011
I Married a Mobster
Narrator
10 episodes
2011
Top Chef
Herself/Guest Judge
1 episode
2014
Mulaney
Vaughn
Episode: "Sweet Jane"
2016
Dice
Toni
2 episodes
BoJack Horseman
Dr. Janet (voice)
2 episodes
2017-2018
Blue Bloods
Mayor Margaret Dutton
6 episodes
Awards and nominations[edit]
Year
Association
Category
Nominated work
Result
1990
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Goodfellas
Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Nominated
1991
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Won
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated
1993
Razzie Awards
Worst Actress
Medicine Man
Nominated
Traces of Red
Nominated
1999
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Sopranos
Nominated
2000
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Won
2001
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated
2002
Golden Globe
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated
2003
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated
2005
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated
2007
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated
2008
Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Outstanding Actress – Drama Series
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Won
Bibliography[edit]
On the Couch (Putnam Adult, 2006) ISBN 0-399-15356-X
To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate,
and Be the Best You Can Be (Rodale Books, 2015) ISBN 0399199608
See also[edit]
List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
References[edit]
^ Bracco On the Couch, p. 38.
^ "Eileen Bracco Obituary – NJ, NJ The Record". legacy.com. 28
November 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
^ "Obituaries: Bracco, Salvatore Sr". The Journal News. March 19,
2013. Archived from the original on March 19, 2013. Retrieved April
15, 2017.
^ Jay Carr (October 15, 1987). "
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco Savors Her Big Break
As A Hollywood Strong Woman". Chicago Tribune.
^ Witchel, Alex (September 27, 1990). "A Mafia Wife Makes Lorraine
Bracco a Princess". The New York Times.
^ a b
Daniel Simone (December 14, 2007). "Who's Here: Lorraine Bracco
– Actor". Dan's Papers. Archived from the original on December 1,
2008.
^ Bracco, On the Couch
^ "Straight Up Brands, Inc. (STRU) Acquires Wine and Spirits Venture".
CNNMoney.com. Market Wire. August 24, 2006. Retrieved
2014-03-06.
^ Top Chef: The Cookbook: Original Interviews and Recipes from Bravo's
Hit Show. Chronicle Books. October 21, 2011. p. 53.
ISBN 978-0-8118-7522-6.
^ "An Offer They Can't Refuse". Top Chef. Season 8. February 2, 2011.
Bravo. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
^ "Ravioli". Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. Season 6. March 25, 2009.
Food. access-date= requires url= (help)
^ Bracco On the Couch[page needed]
^ "
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody and
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco to Guest Star on New Showtime(R)
Comedy Series "Dice"". October 13, 2015.
^ a b Geraldine Fabrikant, Bankruptcy? Tougher Than Counseling a
Soprano, January 1, 2006
^ John Lombardi (January 12, 1998). "Scenes From a Bad Movie
Marriage". New York Magazine.
^ a b Bracco On the Couch, p. 129.
^ "
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco Explains How To Stop Your 60s From Being 'The
Beginning Of The End'". April 7, 2015.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lorraine Bracco.
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco on IMDb
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco at the archive.org copy of the-sopranos.com
New York Times interview
IgoUgo interview
Awards for Lorraine Bracco
v
t
e
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave (1977)
Maureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton /
Mona Washbourne
Mona Washbourne (1978)
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep (1979)
Mary Steenburgen
Mary Steenburgen (1980)
Maureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton (1981)
Glenn Close
Glenn Close (1982)
Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt (1983)
Peggy Ashcroft
Peggy Ashcroft (1984)
Anjelica Huston
.jpg/440px-Anjelica_Huston_March_21,_2014_(cropped).jpg)
Anjelica Huston (1985)
Cathy Tyson /
Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest (1986)
Olympia Dukakis
Olympia Dukakis (1987)
Geneviève Bujold
Geneviève Bujold (1988)
Brenda Fricker
Brenda Fricker (1989)
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco (1990)
Jane Horrocks (1991)
Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1992)
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin /
Rosie Perez
Rosie Perez (1993)
Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest (1994)
Joan Allen
.jpg)
Joan Allen (1995)
Barbara Hershey
Barbara Hershey (1996)
Julianne Moore
.jpg/440px-Julianne_Moore_(15011443428).jpg)
Julianne Moore (1997)
Joan Allen
Joan Allen (1998)
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny (1999)
Frances McDormand
.jpg/440px-Frances_McDormand_2015_(cropped).jpg)
Frances McDormand (2000)
Kate Winslet
.jpg/440px-Kate_Winslet_at_the_2017_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_(cropped).jpg)
Kate Winslet (2001)
Edie Falco
Edie Falco (2002)
Shohreh Aghdashloo
_(38111500402)_(cropped).jpg/440px-Shohreh_Aghdashloo_(3)_(38111500402)_(cropped).jpg)
Shohreh Aghdashloo (2003)
Virginia Madsen
Virginia Madsen (2004)
Catherine Keener
_(2).jpg/440px-Elephant_Song_01_(15208604456)_(2).jpg)
Catherine Keener (2005)
Luminița Gheorghiu (2006)
Amy Ryan
Amy Ryan (2007)
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz (2008)
Mo'Nique
Mo'Nique (2009)
Jacki Weaver
.jpg/440px-Jacki_Weaver_-_Flickr_-_Eva_Rinaldi_Celebrity_and_Live_Music_Photographer_(1).jpg)
Jacki Weaver (2010)
Jessica Chastain
_(cropped).jpg/440px-SDCC_2015_-_Tom_Hiddleston_&_Jessica_Chastain_(19724874572)_(cropped).jpg)
Jessica Chastain (2011)
Amy Adams
_(cropped).jpg/440px-Amy_Adams_(29708985502)_(cropped).jpg)
Amy Adams (2012)
Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o (2013)
Agata Kulesza
Agata Kulesza (2014)
Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander (2015)
Lily Gladstone (2016)
Laurie Metcalf
Laurie Metcalf (2017)
v
t
e
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
in a Drama Series
1994: NYPD Blue, season 1/season 2
Clapp
Franz
Lawrence
McDaniel
O'Grady
Smits
Turturro
1995: ER, season 1/season 2
Clooney
Edwards
La Salle
Margulies
Reuben
Stringfield
Wyle
1996: ER, season 2/season 3
Clooney
Edwards
Innes
La Salle
Margulies
Reuben
Stringfield
Wyle
1997: ER, season 3/season 4
Bello
Clooney
Edwards
Innes
Kingston
La Salle
Margulies
Reuben
Wyle
1998: ER, season 4/season 5
Clooney
Edwards
Innes
Kingston
La Salle
Margulies
Martin
McCrane
Reuben
Wyle
1999: The Sopranos, season 1
Bracco
Chianese
Falco
Gandolfini
Iler
Imperioli
Marchand
Pastore
Sigler
Sirico
Van Zandt
Complete list
(1994–1999)
(2000–2009)
(2010–present)
v
t
e
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
in a Drama Series
2000: The West Wing, season 1/season 2
Hill
Janney
Kelly
Lowe
Moloney
Schiff
Sheen
Spencer
Whitford
2001: The West Wing, season 2/season 3
Hill
Janney
Lowe
Moloney
Schiff
Sheen
Spencer
Whitford
2002: Six Feet Under, season 2
Ambrose
Conroy
Griffiths
Hall
Krause
Rodríguez
St. Patrick
2003: Six Feet Under, season 3
Ambrose
Conroy
Foster
Griffiths
Hall
Krause
Macdissi
Machado
Rodríguez
St. Patrick
Taylor
Wilson
2004: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,
season 4/season 5
Dourdan
Eads
Fox
Guilfoyle
Hall
Helgenberger
Petersen
Szmanda
2005: Lost, season 1/season 2
Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Andrews
de Ravin
Fox
Garcia
Grace
Holloway
Kelley
D. D. Kim
Y. Kim
Lilly
Monaghan
O'Quinn
Perrineau
Rodriguez
Somerhalder
Watros
2006: Grey's Anatomy, season 2/season 3
Chambers
Dane
Dempsey
Heigl
Knight
Oh
Pickens
Pompeo
Ramirez
Walsh
Washington
Wilson
2007: The Sopranos, season 6, part II
Antonacci
Bracco
Falco
Gandolfini
Grimaldi
Iler
Imperioli
Nascarella
Schirripa
Servitto
Sigler
Sirico
Turturro
Van Zandt
Vincent
2008: Mad Men, season 2
Batt
Brie
Gladis
Hamm
Hart
Hendricks
Jones
Kartheiser
Moses
Moss
Shipka
Slattery
Sommer
Staton
2009: Mad Men, season 3
Alemanni
Batt
Gilmore
Gladis
Hamm
Harris
Hendricks
Jones
Kartheiser
Morse
Moss
Shipka
Slattery
Sommer
Stanley
Staton
Complete list
(1994–1999)
(2000–2009)
(2010–present)
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 85731556
LCCN: n92051443
ISNI: 0000 0001 0996 3661
GND: 131958577
SUDOC: 086800485
BNF: cb14036967j (data)
BNE: XX1279984
SN
