Lorraine Bracco
| Lorraine Bracco | |
|---|---|
Lorraine Bracco, 2007
|
|
| Born | October 2, 1954 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) | Daniel Guerard (m. 1979–82) Edward James Olmos (m. 1994–2002) |
| Partner(s) | Harvey Keitel (1982–1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Elizabeth Bracco (sister) |
Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for her performances as Dr. 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. She currently appears as Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series Rizzoli & Isles.
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Early life
Bracco was born in the Brooklyn, New York City, 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 and met her father during World War II. Eileen came with Salvatore to America as a War bride.[2][3] Bracco grew up in Westbury, on Barry 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 to French parents.[4][5] Bracco is fluent in English, French and Italian.
Career
In 1974, Bracco moved to France, where she became a fashion model for Jean-Paul Gaultier. While there, she was introduced to the director and novelist Lina Wertmüller. In the early 1970s, Wertmüller recruited Bracco in a new film production titled 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.[6]
Bracco acted in several French-language films. She also once 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. 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 was nominated for a Golden Globe 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.
Lorraine Bracco at one point was one of many actresses who were considered for the role of Catwoman in Tim Burton's Batman Returns, But she politely turned down the role.
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.[7] It netted her three consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and at the 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 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, thus being pitted against The Sopranos co-star Aida Turturro for the award.
In October 2015, it was announced that Bracco would guest star opposite Adrien Brody on the upcoming Showtime comedy series Dice.[8]
Personal life
Bracco has been married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to Daniel Guerard from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. They have one daughter, Margaux Guerard.
She was in a 12-year relationship with actor Harvey Keitel. 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.[9][10]
She married Edward James Olmos in 1994. They divorced in 2002.
She is the owner of Bracco Wines, with association of Straight-Up Brands LLC.[11] 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 two-episode finale.[12] 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.[13]
Bracco also appeared on a season 6 episode of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as a guest judge for the ravioli throwdown.[14] Lorraine Bracco is a practitioner of Shotokan Karate.[10] 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.[15]
Filmography
Film
| 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? |
Barbara | |
| 1981 | Fais gaffe à la gaffe! | Margaux | |
| 1985 | Un complicato intrigo di donne, vicoli e delitti | (uncredited) | |
| 1987 | The Pick-Up Artist | Carla | |
| 1987 | Someone to Watch Over Me | Ellie Keegan | |
| 1989 | Sing | Miss Lombardo | |
| 1989 | The Dream Team | Riley | |
| 1989 | Up to Date | Sheila | |
| 1989 | 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 for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
| 1991 | Talent for the Game | Bobbie | |
| 1991 | Switch | Sheila Faxton | |
| 1992 | Medicine Man | Dr. Rae Crane | Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress |
| 1992 | Radio Flyer | Mary | |
| 1992 | 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 | The Basketball Diaries | Mrs. Carroll | |
| 1995 | Hackers | Margo Wallace | |
| 1996 | The Liars | Helene Miller | |
| 1997 | Silent Cradle | Helen Greg | |
| 2000 | Ladies Room | Gemma | |
| 2001 | Riding in Cars with Boys | Mrs. Teresa Donofrio | |
| 2001 | 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 | The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee | Unknown | Short film |
Television
| 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 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | Det. Ray | Television movie |
| 1999–2007 | The 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 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 Confidential | Norah Larkin | Television movie |
| 2008 | Lipstick Jungle | Janice Lasher | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Halfway House Matron | Episode: "Disciple" |
| 2010–present | Rizzoli & Isles | Angela Rizzoli | 54 episodes |
| 2011 | I Married a Mobster | Narrator | 10 episodes |
| 2014 | Mulaney | Vaughn | Episode: "Sweet Jane" |
Awards and nominations
Bibliography
- 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
References
- ↑ Bracco On the Couch, p. 38.
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- ↑ http://www.nyjnews.com/obits/Obit1.php?pid=3103578[dead link]
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- ↑ Bracco On the Couch[page needed]
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- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Bracco On the Couch, p. 129.
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External links
- Lorraine Bracco at the Internet Movie Database
- New York Times interview
- Bracco Wines
- Bracco Wines straight up brands
- IgoUgo interview
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- Articles with dead external links from June 2015
- Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from March 2014
- Articles with hCards
- 1954 births
- Living people
- Actresses from New York
- American expatriates in France
- New York Democrats
- Shotokan practitioners
- Female karateka
- American karateka
- American female models
- American film actresses
- American people of English descent
- American people of French descent
- American people of Italian descent
- American television actresses
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- People from Westbury, New York
- Actresses of Italian descent
