Bracco Reflects on Childhood Insult That Lasted a Lifetime

Brooklyn, NY – Actress Lorraine Bracco, 70, opened up about a painful childhood insult that has lingered with her for more than five decades. Before the success she found as a model and actress, Bracco remembered being called the ‘ugliest girl’ by her classmates in sixth grade.

In an essay for PEOPLE, Bracco recalled how the moment unfolded on the school bus: ‘One day, kids on the school bus told me something that stuck with me for life. They said they had voted me the ugliest girl in sixth grade.’ The painful memory left her in shock, and she described it as ‘horrible and devastating— a deep wound.’

Bracco’s father, witnessing her distress, provided comfort in a poignant moment. He sat her on his lap, held her face, and said, ‘I don’t care about them. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world to me.’

As she grew older, Bracco pursued modeling and signed with Wilhelmina after high school. Her move to Paris eventually led her to an acting career with a breakout role in the 1990 film “Goodfellas.” Yet, despite her success, the sting of that childhood insult remained. ‘As for that childhood insult, it stuck with me for a long time,’ she admitted. ‘Early in my modeling career, when Revlon offered me a campaign, I said to myself, ‘I can’t do this. I was the ugliest girl in sixth grade.’”

Bracco has not shied away from discussing her struggles. Following a difficult divorce from actor Harvey Keitel, she reflected on the toll it took on her mental health. ‘I lost a year of my life to depression,’ she said, offering advice to others: ‘Get a good doctor, get diagnosed, and know that pharmacology works.’ She emphasized the importance of talk therapy, encouraging people to not be afraid of seeking help.

With renewed confidence, Bracco shared that she is now ‘sure of myself’ and is open to finding love again. ‘I believe in love. What do I look for in a man? A sense of humor is extremely important. And I like a guy who’s sure of himself,’ she said.