She's always trying to find new writers, but she's probably one of the best writers I've ever met. She's one of my mom's students - my mom developed her a lot and that's where I met her, going to my mom's class every night. We did a play together when we first met, and it was the first thing I ever acted in. She just turned it into a film, "Hello To Never," and it's really great. She's a ballsy writer.
Are you going to be in it?
Yes, and I'm producing it. I was going to direct it but people liked it so
much they thought they could get a really good director for it.
Are there any moments on "The Sopranos" that are lighthearted. The shows are so serious.
My character is always just a mess. But she's funny in how naive she is all the time, the way she says things and her accent, I guess. The guys are always funny. Stevie Van Zandt, Paulie Walnuts - Tony Sirico's character - they're cartoon characters.
That's a mostly male cast.
I'm around a lot of guys. One of the reasons I did this film was to get away from all of that. Everything I've ever done has been with a lot of men. I haven't acted with a lot of women until this film. You walk onto a set out here and on a set back there and it's two different worlds. You don't feel like anybody's an actor there. It's hard to go anywhere from "The Sopranos" because it's all up here (pointing to her head) - it's great people, great writers, great everything. There's nothing wrong with it. Nothing is ever so-so.
What have you learned on the set of "The Sopranos?"
The main thing I learned being on that set is building a lot of confidence
knowing I'm in the company of those people, and that David Chase said it was okay that I be a part of that group. That's the biggest compliment I could have ever received, and that built my confidence.
As far as learning, I watch everybody's different styles. Edie [Falco] hits her marks. They all have different styles. Aida [Turturro] is like an animal. She gets out there and you never know what she's going to do. Jim [Gandolfini] is like that, too. Michael [Imperioli] is just the easiest person to work with, so whenever I have to go and work with somebody else, it's a nightmare. I don't know how to verbalize what I've learned. It just comes out when I work.
Is it almost time for you to move on to the next thing in your career?
I'd do "The Sopranos" forever if I could. It's a great character. I have
everything I love - the accent, wardrobe, hair, nails, the whole thing. But the show's coming to an end, so yeah, I'm ready to move on.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Marc Blucas, Lori Petty & Shelly Cole, and Gina Gershon Interviews
"Prey for Rock & Roll" Trailer, Credits, and Websites
