[on James Gandolfini] I'll always smile remembering that big lug with the cheeky grin squeezed into that tiny chair, and I'll always cherish the love and gentleness he showed me.

[on joining The Sopranos (1999) cast] After doing Goodfellas (1990), I was offered every Mafia girl, wife, mistress, daughter available. And I said to them, 'No, I don't want to do that. I did it. Can't do it better'. I called up my agent the day before I'm going to meet David [Chase], and I go, 'I don't want Carmela - I want Dr. Melfi'.

I was not ready for how fucking difficult Dr. Melfi was to play. I am an explosive girl. I am loud. I am full of life and full of all kinds of bullshit, and I have to sit on every emotion, every word, everything, to play this character. I mean, I had to suck the life out of myself to play her. I mean, I don't think Dr. Melfi ever smiled. I wanted her repressed and sad. And she also had to pay attention to not give an inch with Tony, because he would have eaten her up. I wasn't going to let that happen. So I had that strength, but emotionally I suffered.