Drea de Matteo
An actress who stole scenes as a tragic mob moll on 'The Sopranos,' bringing a raw, street-smart vulnerability to every role she inhabits.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American actress·Birthday: January 19·Generation X
Biography
Drea de Matteo didn't just play Adriana La Cerva on 'The Sopranos'; she lived in the character's sequined, chain-smoking skin, delivering a performance of such heartbreaking naivete and desperation that it earned her an Emmy. A New Yorker with Italian roots, she brought an authentic, downtown edge to the role that was initially meant to last only a few episodes. Her memorable exit from the series cemented her place in television history. While often cast in tough, gritty roles—from a biker in 'Sons of Anarchy' to a detective in 'Shades of Blue'—de Matteo's strength is in revealing the fragile humanity beneath the hardened exterior. Her career is a testament to the power of a supporting player who can completely own the screen.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Drea was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Drea Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Drea's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her role as Adriana La Cerva on 'The Sopranos.'
- Portrayed the recurring role of Wendy Case, a recovering drug addict and informant, on the FX series 'Sons of Anarchy.'
- Starred as Detective Tess Nazario opposite Jennifer Lopez in the NBC police drama 'Shades of Blue.'
Did You Know?
She originally auditioned for the role of Meadow Soprano on 'The Sopranos' before being cast as Adriana.
She owned and operated a vintage clothing store in the East Village of New York City called Filth Mart.
She is a dedicated fan of heavy metal music.
“I'm not a mob wife, but I understand that world's loyalty and its rules.”
