The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch. Edie Falco reveals her big worry playing mob wife Carmela on The Sopranos: 'I was very concerned' The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch. By Marina Watts Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek. EW's editorial guidelines March 9, 2026 5:53 p.m.

The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch.

Edie Falco reveals her big worry playing mob wife Carmela on The Sopranos: 'I was very concerned'

The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and *Newsweek*.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 9, 2026 5:53 p.m. ET

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Edie Falco in Los Angeles in September 2018. Credit:

Kevin Mazur/Getty

- Edie Falco was "very concerned" about portraying mother and wife Carmela Soprano on *The Sopranos*, despite not being one herself.

- "I was very concerned that…everybody would know I was faking," she said during a recent panel.

- Despite her worry, she won three Emmy Awards for her role.

Edie Falco's performance on *The Sopranos* is considered iconic, even if she didn't think so at first.

Falco, who won three Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Carmela Soprano on the HBO series, revealed a concern she had playing the mother and wife of mob boss Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini), during a panel discussion at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City on Feb. 27.

"When we shot these things, I was not married nor did I have children, and I was very concerned that…everybody would know I was faking," Falco said during the event, which was moderated by Ari Aster with *Sopranos *creator David Chase and costar Dominic Chianese, per PEOPLE.**

Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano and James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and on 'The Sopranos' in 2005.

Hbo/Kobal/Shutterstock

The multilayered Carmela managed the Soprano home, raising daughter Meadow and son AJ (Jamie Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler, respectively), while also remaining faithful to Tony despite his nefarious dealings in the mafia. Despite not being married or having children while portraying Carmela, Falco was able to convincingly embody the role.

"I didn't think I had that gene, but when A.J. pulls up after his trip, and how excited she is to see him, I was like, 'No, I totally believed that,' " she reflected. Years later, Falco experienced that Carmela moment in real life, with her son Anderson.

"After having a son, who's now 21, I behaved exactly like that when he was away for a weekend," she said. "I make a fool of myself and have him rolling his eyes at me." Falco is also mother to daughter Macy.**

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Falco also spoke about the deaths of her castmates since the show ended during the panel, which followed a screening of *Sopranos *season 3 episode "A Second Opinion."

"I can't even begin to tell you, first and foremost, about how many of those people are gone. It still knocks me off my feet," she said, PEOPLE reported.

Among those gone are Gandolfini, Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano), Tony Sirico (Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri), and Jerry Adler (Herman "Hesh" Rabkin).

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Reflecting on her overall experience in the role, Falco said, "I still don't have an intellectual perspective on what the heck went on for those 10 years of my life. It is so evocative to watch."

'The Sopranos' cast and creatives attend 'The Sopranos' 25th Anniversary Reunion in June 2024.

Jason Mendez/Getty

The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, N.Y., is honoring *The Sopranos *with a special exhibition titled "Stories and Set Designs for *The Sopranos*." The exhibit will be on display now through May 31 in the Amphitheater Gallery.

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Source: Drama

Published: March 11, 2026 at 06:01AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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