Name	Lorraine Bracco
Height	5' 8"
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	2 October 1954
Place of Birth	Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Famous for

Actress Lorraine Bracco plays psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi who treats New Jersey Mafia heavyweight Tony Soprano on HBO's hit series, "The Sopranos." Lorraine Bracco's concise, understated portrayal has earned her multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations for Best Actress in a TV Drama. Most recently, while on hiatus from "The Sopranos," Lorraine Bracco did a guest star turn for NBC as 'Karla Grizano' in "Law & Order: Trial by Jury."

In addition, Lorraine Bracco was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as a mobster's wife in "Goodfellas" directed by Martin Scorsese. Lorraine Bracco also starred as Drew Barrymore's mother in "Riding in Cars with Boys" directed by Penny Marshall. In addition to film and television, Lorraine Bracco starred on Broadway as "Mrs. Robinson" in Terry Johnson's adaptation of "The Graduate." Lorraine Bracco also continued with the show on tour.

Lorraine Bracco was born in Brooklyn to an Italian-American father and an English mother. Though she was voted the ugliest girl in sixth grade, Lorraine Bracco nonetheless became a Paris fashion model represented by the Wilhelmina Agency. Lorraine Bracco told the Los Angeles Times she was "never glamorous, more the girl-next door type."

Lorraine Bracco worked as a disc jockey for Radio Luxembourg and began to act in films. Lorraine Bracco appeared in several French comedies and worked with Italian film director Lina Wertmuller. Returning to the U.S., Lorraine Bracco studied at Stella Adler and the Actors Studio in New York City.

Lorraine Bracco made her American feature film debut in the 1987 Ridley Scott's thriller, "Someone to Watch Over Me." According to the Los Angeles Times, "Bracco's portrayal of a cuckolded Queens housewife who forgoes tears to KO her unfaithful detective husband captivated pre-"Thelma & Louise" audiences."

Other film credits for Lorraine Bracco include "The Pick-Up Artist" (directed by James Toback), "Switch" (1991, directed by Blake Edwards), "Radio Flyer" (1992, directed by Richard Donner), "Medicine Man", (1992, directed by John McTiernan), "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" (1993, directed by Gus Van Sant), "Hackers" (1995, directed by Iaian Softley), and "Basketball Diaries" (1995, directed by Scott Kalvert).

Lorraine Bracco lives in New York and continues in her capacity as a member of the Board of Directors of an environmental organization called Riverkeeper, as well as a member of the Board of the New York Council for the Humanities. Lorraine Bracco is working on her memoir, due to be published by Putnam in June 2006.