Senior Planet Talks to…Lorraine Bracco
Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco, 71, became a household name after playing a mob wife in Martin Scorsese’s seminal 1990 film Goodfellas. Today she plays a mother-of-five with two adult kids still stuck at home in the heartwarming comedy, The Mother, The Menacer and Me.
In her role, she disapproves of son-in-law Eddie, who she believes is failing her daughter with his impossible dreams of becoming a Hollywood horror director. However, in real life, the four-time Emmy nominee and grandmother loves having her family home, telling SENIOR PLANET why her motto in life is “joy.”
Q: Your character Nancy in The Mother, The Menacer, and Me wrestles with the idea of moving into a senior living home. Is that something you’ve considered in real life?
LORRAINE: I think as long as you’re young and vibrant, you should be able to try and stay in your own house. But if you need care, you should go. Many people are lonely, and that would solve a lot of issues for them. We don’t want people to be lonely, so I think that’s a big draw of those homes.
Q: Nancy is experiencing a similar scenario to what we see today – adult children returning home due to the rising cost of living. What do you think?
LORRAINE: I get it. It’s not easy. But what’s the alternative? Should they live on the street?
Here’s a sneak peek at the trailer:
Q: Your daughters Margaux Guerard, 46 [dad is French businessman Daniel Guerard] and Stella Keitel, 39, [dad is Harvey Keitel] have each made you a grandmother. You must enjoy having them home?
LORRAINE: I love when my kids come, and I love even more when the grandkids come. That’s my favorite. I have a 12-year-old, a six-year-old, and a two-year-old – and that’s a huge joy. My god, they’re so fun and smart. The two-year-old is my first boy. He’s Stella’s boy, but he’s mine! He’s my little prince. The grandkids bring another dimension of who you are, and I’m very happy. As a grandmother, I have the easy job, but I remember it not being easy [as a mother].
Q: Both your girls had small roles in Goodfellas as children. Are they still acting?
LORRAINE: Stella is a forensic clinical psychiatrist with her own practice and a coaching company. Margaux is in business, consulting with many French makeup companies. My kids are busy and successful.
Q: You’ve enjoyed such a brilliant career. Do you have a favorite film?
LORRAINE: I loved making Someone to Watch Over Me with Ridley Scott. It was a great experience. I also loved making Nonnas with Vince Vaughn and the girls. It’s been a long career, and people think it’s easy, but they don’t realize the hard work behind the scenes. I’ve been lucky, with only a couple of not-so-great experiences.
Q: Which roles are you most recognized from?
LORRAINE: It’s going to be The Sopranos, then Goodfellas, and now Nonnas. It’s cute; 2.3 billion people watched Nonnas worldwide. I’m also excited about The Mother, The Menacer, and Me because it has relatable family elements and a lovely charm.
Q: You pioneered playing strong women. Were you aware that you were breaking the mold at the time?
LORRAINE: I just followed my truth. I had a script, and I pushed certain aspects of it – but I don’t take anything from anybody.
Q: What’s your fondest memory of your late great Sopranos co-star James Gandolfini?
LORRAINE: He was delicious. Kind, sweet, and fun, with a great sense of humor. He was serious about acting, and once we got into that room, we were special.
Q: You’re a long-time Hamptons resident, but do you still have your home in Sicily?
LORRAINE: I do. I remodeled it right before Covid, and it’s charming and lovely. Never did I think I would own a house in Sicily.
Q: You lived in France for a decade working as a model before launching your acting career. Are you still interested in fashion?
LORRAINE: I love fashion and enjoy watching the shows. I also search for vintage items when creating a character.
Q: Do you still follow the advice from your health book, published a few years ago?
LORRAINE: I try. It’s not easy, especially after losing my parents. I decided to take care of myself and avoid their unhealthy habits.
Q: How do you stay in shape?
LORRAINE: I walk a lot and have recently started using a weight vest. It’s a workout, and I even wear it while having lunch with friends!
Q: And for nutrition?
LORRAINE: I mainly follow the Mediterranean diet, but during the holidays, there are no rules. I taste every cookie possible!
Q: What are your passions in life?
LORRAINE: I’m a big gardener and love to needlepoint, read, and watch movies. I enjoy being home with my two rescue dogs.
Q: What’s your secret to aging with attitude?
LORRAINE: Have more fun! Laugh and be with people who make you feel good. At 71, I believe that fun is essential.
Photo: Courtesy of Persimmon
NB: The Mother, The Menacer, And Me is now available digitally.
Gill Pringle began her career as a rock columnist for popular British newspapers, traveling the world with Madonna, U2, and Michael Jackson. Moving to Los Angeles 27 years ago, she interviews film and TV personalities for prestigious UK outlets, The Independent, The i-paper, and The Sunday Times – and, of course, Senior Planet. A member of Critics Choice Association, BAFTA, and AWFJ, she wrote the screenplay for the 2016 Netflix family film, The 3 Tails Movie: A Mermaid Adventure. An award-winning writer, in 2021 she was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with 1st prize at the NAEJ Awards.
Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco, 71, became a household name after playing a mob wife in Martin Scorsese’s seminal 1990 film Goodfellas. Today she plays a mother-of-five with two adult kids still stuck at home in the heartwarming comedy, The Mother, The Menacer and Me.
In her role, she disapproves of son-in-law Eddie, who she believes is failing her daughter with his impossible dreams of becoming a Hollywood horror director. However, in real life, the four-time Emmy nominee and grandmother loves having her family home, telling SENIOR PLANET why her motto in life is “joy.”
Q: Your character Nancy in The Mother, The Menacer, and Me wrestles with the idea of moving into a senior living home. Is that something you’ve considered in real life?
LORRAINE: I think as long as you’re young and vibrant, you should be able to try and stay in your own house. But if you need care, you should go. Many people are lonely, and that would solve a lot of issues for them. We don’t want people to be lonely, so I think that’s a big draw of those homes.
Q: Nancy is experiencing a similar scenario to what we see today – adult children returning home due to the rising cost of living. What do you think?
LORRAINE: I get it. It’s not easy. But what’s the alternative? Should they live on the street?
Here’s a sneak peek at the trailer:
Q: Your daughters Margaux Guerard, 46 [dad is French businessman Daniel Guerard] and Stella Keitel, 39, [dad is Harvey Keitel] have each made you a grandmother. You must enjoy having them home?
LORRAINE: I love when my kids come, and I love even more when the grandkids come. That’s my favorite. I have a 12-year-old, a six-year-old, and a two-year-old – and that’s a huge joy. My god, they’re so fun and smart. The two-year-old is my first boy. He’s Stella’s boy, but he’s mine! He’s my little prince. The grandkids bring another dimension of who you are, and I’m very happy. As a grandmother, I have the easy job, but I remember it not being easy [as a mother].
Q: Both your girls had small roles in Goodfellas as children. Are they still acting?
LORRAINE: Stella is a forensic clinical psychiatrist with her own practice and a coaching company. Margaux is in business, consulting with many French makeup companies. My kids are busy and successful.
Q: You’ve enjoyed such a brilliant career. Do you have a favorite film?
LORRAINE: I loved making Someone to Watch Over Me with Ridley Scott. It was a great experience. I also loved making Nonnas with Vince Vaughn and the girls. It’s been a long career, and people think it’s easy, but they don’t realize the hard work behind the scenes. I’ve been lucky, with only a couple of not-so-great experiences.
Q: Which roles are you most recognized from?
LORRAINE: It’s going to be The Sopranos, then Goodfellas, and now Nonnas. It’s cute; 2.3 billion people watched Nonnas worldwide. I’m also excited about The Mother, The Menacer, and Me because it has relatable family elements and a lovely charm.
Q: You pioneered playing strong women. Were you aware that you were breaking the mold at the time?
LORRAINE: I just followed my truth. I had a script, and I pushed certain aspects of it – but I don’t take anything from anybody.
Q: What’s your fondest memory of your late great Sopranos co-star James Gandolfini?
LORRAINE: He was delicious. Kind, sweet, and fun, with a great sense of humor. He was serious about acting, and once we got into that room, we were special.
Q: You’re a long-time Hamptons resident, but do you still have your home in Sicily?
LORRAINE: I do. I remodeled it right before Covid, and it’s charming and lovely. Never did I think I would own a house in Sicily.
Q: You lived in France for a decade working as a model before launching your acting career. Are you still interested in fashion?
LORRAINE: I love fashion and enjoy watching the shows. I also search for vintage items when creating a character.
Q: Do you still follow the advice from your health book, published a few years ago?
LORRAINE: I try. It’s not easy, especially after losing my parents. I decided to take care of myself and avoid their unhealthy habits.
Q: How do you stay in shape?
LORRAINE: I walk a lot and have recently started using a weight vest. It’s a workout, and I even wear it while having lunch with friends!
Q: And for nutrition?
LORRAINE: I mainly follow the Mediterranean diet, but during the holidays, there are no rules. I taste every cookie possible!
Q: What are your passions in life?
LORRAINE: I’m a big gardener and love to needlepoint, read, and watch movies. I enjoy being home with my two rescue dogs.
Q: What’s your secret to aging with attitude?
LORRAINE: Have more fun! Laugh and be with people who make you feel good. At 71, I believe that fun is essential.
Photo: Courtesy of Persimmon
NB: The Mother, The Menacer, And Me is now available digitally.
Gill Pringle began her career as a rock columnist for popular British newspapers, traveling the world with Madonna, U2, and Michael Jackson. Moving to Los Angeles 27 years ago, she interviews film and TV personalities for prestigious UK outlets, The Independent, The i-paper, and The Sunday Times – and, of course, Senior Planet. A member of Critics Choice Association, BAFTA, and AWFJ, she wrote the screenplay for the 2016 Netflix family film, The 3 Tails Movie: A Mermaid Adventure. An award-winning writer, in 2021 she was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with 1st prize at the NAEJ Awards.
