Drea de Matteo, known for her role as Adriana La Cerva on “The Sopranos,” shockingly made $500 per episode in her first year on the HBO hit.
“I never really made an intense amount of money,” the 49-year-old actress recently told Page Six.
De Matteo, who portrayed the long-suffering girlfriend opposite Michael Imperioli’s Christopher Moltisanti, appeared in Season 1 and joined the main cast in Seasons 2 through 5.
It wasn’t until her character became recurring, however, that de Matteo saw a pay increase.
“Then I made a couple of thousand and then probably by the end is when I started making series quotes but that money came and went immediately,” she said, adding the cast doesn’t receive residuals from the show, which ran from 1999 to 2007.
“I didn’t spend enough time on the show to really make money,” de Matteo said.
In addition to “The Sopranos,” de Matteo’s resume also includes appearances on “Desperate Housewives,” and the short-lived “Friends” spinoff, “Joey.” De Matteo said she was reluctant to take on the role of Gina Tribbiani, the older sister to Matt LeBlanc’s Joey.
“I was petrified of the sitcom format because I didn’t think I could measure up,” de Matteo said of “Joey,” which aired on NBC from 2004 to 2006.
“Matt’s a comedic genius and as much as my character on ‘The Sopranos’ was funny, I’d never worked in that format before with a live audience and things changing by the second,” she continued.
De Matteo said that while she had “the best time” working with LeBlanc, she didn’t believe she was fit for the job and even approached TV execs about it.
“My older self would have been, ‘Shut the f–k up,'” de Matteo said. “I was young and everything was very precious. And now I would do anything to have that part again.”
Beyond television, de Matteo has been keeping busy elsewhere. Not only did she launch the “Made Women: A Sopranos Re-Watch” podcast with pal Chris Kushner, but the duo is also behind a collaboration with Nocking Point Wines.
Their “Gangster Goddess” Pinot Noir is called, “Don’t F–k With Us 2021.”
“When Nocking Point came and said, ‘You hoo, girls, the wine is ready,’ we were like, ‘Oh, well we’re celebrating the end of our pandemic podcast project so let’s kick up our heels and say goodbye,'” de Matteo said.
The actress, who is currently filming the movie “One Way” with Machine Gun Kelly and Kevin Bacon, and has “Paradise City” coming out on Amazon Prime next month, said she is hopeful about the year ahead.
“I never prayed for money, I always prayed for health and wellbeing and happiness but never for finances, this year I’m going to be praying for everyone’s health plus a little bit of financial help!” she said with a laugh.
As an entertainment industry enthusiast and expert, my depth of knowledge spans across various aspects of television, including the dynamics of actors' compensation, the challenges of transitioning between different roles and formats, and the evolving landscape of the industry. I've closely followed the careers of many actors, including Drea de Matteo, and can shed light on the intricacies of their experiences in the entertainment world.
Drea de Matteo's journey, particularly her early days on "The Sopranos," reveals fascinating insights into the financial aspects of television acting. In her initial year on the HBO hit series, she shockingly earned a mere $500 per episode. Despite portraying the pivotal character of Adriana La Cerva opposite Michael Imperioli's Christopher Moltisanti, financial success didn't come immediately.
It's noteworthy that de Matteo's pay increased significantly only when her character transitioned to a recurring role. As she mentions, she started making a couple of thousand dollars, and eventually, by the end of her stint, she began receiving series quotes. However, she candidly admits that the money she earned came and went quickly, partly due to the absence of residuals for the cast. This lack of residual payments is a common aspect in the television industry, where actors don't receive ongoing compensation for reruns or syndication.
Beyond "The Sopranos," de Matteo's career includes roles in "Desperate Housewives" and the "Friends" spinoff, "Joey." Her apprehension about taking on the sitcom format for "Joey" reflects the challenges actors face when navigating different genres. Despite her success on "The Sopranos," she felt a sense of uncertainty in measuring up to the comedic genius of Matt LeBlanc in a sitcom with a live audience.
Interestingly, de Matteo's career extends beyond acting. Her collaboration with Chris Kushner on the "Made Women: A Sopranos Re-Watch" podcast and the partnership with Nocking Point Wines, producing the "Gangster Goddess" Pinot Noir, showcases her multifaceted involvement in the entertainment industry.
In her current endeavors, such as filming the movie "One Way" and the upcoming release of "Paradise City" on Amazon Prime, de Matteo remains active and optimistic about the future. Her reflections on past decisions, like expressing reluctance for the role in "Joey," provide a glimpse into the evolving mindset of an actor as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment world.
As we delve into the complexities of actors' careers, it's evident that financial success, the challenges of transitioning between roles and formats, and the pursuit of creative fulfillment are all integral aspects of their journey.
