Sopranos’ actor Lorraine Bracco looks unrecognizable in a new HBO documentary about the hit show.
The now-69-year-old portrayed Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the series, which ran from 1999-2007.
Melfi served as a psychiatrist for mafia boss Tony Soprano, portrayed by the late actor James Gandolfini.
HBO released the first installment of the two-part documentary, Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, on September 7. The documentary gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s creator.
Bracco, who received four Emmy nominations and four Gold Globe nominations for her role as Dr. Melfi, appeared to look completely different in a teaser for the documentary.
Morraine Bracco portrayed Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the series, which ran from 1999-2007
The now-69-year-old is seen confidently sporting gray hair
Bracco’s character, Dr. Melfi, served as a psychiatrist for mafia boss Tony Soprano, portrayed by the late actor James Gandolfini
In the trailer, Bracco is seen confidently sporting gray hair and without the glasses she wore on the show.
In the teaser, Bracco shared that she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, despite Chase originally wanting her to portray Tony’s wife, Carmela.Â
She turned down the role, saying that she already played a mobster’s wife in the film Goodfellas.
Lorraine recalled to HuffPost: ‘I fell in love with David [Chase] the minute I met him – when I walked into the room. I said, “I like this guy.”  Â
‘And I said, “Look, I don’t think I should play Carmela, because, I did it. I did it in a Scorsese movie. I got an Oscar nomination.Â
“I really don’t think I’m going to bring so much to this for you, that I haven’t done already.”Â
‘I said, “But I really love this script, and I want to play Melfi.”‘
Bracco received four Emmy nominations and four Gold Globe nominations for her role as Dr. MelfiÂ
Bracco shared that she was drawn to the role of Dr. Melfi, despite show creator David Chase originally wanting her to portray Tony’s wife
Actress Edie Falco ended up landing the role of Carmela.
In 2013, the cast was devastated to learn of the death of Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack at the age of 51.Â
Bracco called him ‘loving, caring, sweet, funny – a jokester,’ in an interview with HuffPost.
‘It was devastating – young man, talented, the peak of his career, the peak of his life with a beautiful wife and baby, and children, and [his son] Michael. It was really shocking to me,’ she said.
Since the Sopranos aired, Bracco has starred in many TV and movie projects, including Rizzoli & Isles and Blue Bloods.
In 2024, she appeared in the action-comedy The Union, starring Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg.
