Lorraine Bracco Reflects on Childhood Bullying and Career Success

NEW YORK CITY, NY — Actress Lorraine Bracco, known for her role in ‘The Sopranos‘, revealed in an essay that childhood bullying still impacts her despite a successful career. The 70-year-old Bracco wrote about a traumatic experience from sixth grade when classmates voted her the ‘ugliest girl’.

In her essay for The Wall Street Journal, Bracco recalled the painful moment on the school bus. ‘Can you imagine? I was in shock. It was horrible and devastating — a deep wound,’ she shared. The Brooklyn-born actress went home and cried. Her father comforted her by saying, ‘I don’t care about them. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world to me.’

Bracco described her school experience as socially challenging yet found solace in performing arts. After high school, she started modeling in Paris, where she worked for a decade and became a favorite of designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Despite her success, the sting of her childhood insult lingered. ‘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,”‘ she admitted. Bracco later starred in films like ‘Goodfellas,’ earning an Oscar nomination for her performance.

She received additional accolades for her role as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi in ‘The Sopranos’, which earned her Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Currently, she stars in Netflix’s ‘Nonnas’, and is looking toward the future.

Bracco shared personal struggles after a breakup with actor Harvey Keitel. She described losing a year to depression, advising others facing similar challenges to seek professional help. ‘Don’t be afraid of it,’ she encouraged. ‘You’re worth it, you’re worth having a good day, every day.’

With life in order and her career thriving, Bracco expressed a desire to embrace love again, saying, ‘I believe in love. A sense of humor is extremely important.’ She is hopeful about the future of her personal and professional life.