Lorraine Bracco

Lorraine Bracco is an Academy Award-nominated actress whose career spans decades in film and television, recognized for her distinct husky voice and Brooklyn accent. Bracco has received nominations for an Academy Award, four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. She began her career modeling in France, appearing on the covers of Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire before transitioning to acting.

Bracco gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Karen Hill in the Martin Scorsese-directed crime drama "Goodfellas," a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. She also received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Her film credits include "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Switch," "Medicine Man," "Radio Flyer," "Hackers," "The Basketball Diaries," and "Riding in Cars with Boys."

During the casting of "The Sopranos," Bracco was initially considered for the role of Carmela Soprano but advocated to play psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi, a decision that led to three consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards for Best TV Actress in a Drama. The American Psycho-Analytical Association also recognized her performance as Dr. Melfi in "The Sopranos."

After her work on "The Sopranos," Bracco joined the cast of the police procedural "Rizzoli & Isles" on TNT as the mother of Detective Jane Rizzoli. She also provided the voice of Sophia the Seagull in the Disney+ remake of "Pinocchio," directed by Robert Zemeckis. In addition to her acting career, Bracco authored the self-help book "To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate, and Be the Best You Can Be" and the memoir "On the Couch."

Bracco has appeared in "The Union" on Netflix with Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, as well as the HBO Documentary Special "Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos." She stars in "Nonnas," a biographical comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky, alongside Vince Vaughn, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon. The film reached the top of Netflix's English-language film charts, collecting over 15 million views in its initial three days and more than 33 million in 10 days.

Bracco is a founding member of The Felix Organization, a non-profit dedicated to enriching the lives of children growing up in the foster care system.