AceShowbiz - Edie Falco revealed she was deeply worried about portraying Carmela Soprano, the devoted mob wife and mother on the acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos, despite not having children or being married at the time.

During a recent panel discussion held at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City on February 27, Falco opened up about her fears that audiences would see through her performance as inauthentic. "I was very concerned that... everybody would know I was faking," she admitted while reflecting on her role as the complex character who managed her household and family with unwavering loyalty to her husband, mob boss Tony Soprano.

Despite these apprehensions, Falco delivered a performance that earned her three Emmy Awards, solidifying her portrayal as iconic within television history. The event was moderated by filmmaker Ari Aster and included appearances from The Sopranos creator David Chase and cast member Dominic Chianese.

Carmela Soprano skillfully balanced the demands of raising her children, Meadow and A.J.—played by Jamie Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler—with the challenges of being married to a mafia figure. Though Falco was neither a mother nor a wife during filming, she captured the nuances of Carmela’s character convincingly.

Reflecting on a particular scene where Carmela eagerly welcomes A.J. home after a trip, Falco said, "I didn’t think I had that gene, but when A.J. pulls up after his trip, and how excited she is to see him, I was like, ‘No, I totally believed that.’" She later connected with that sentiment in her personal life as a mother. Her son Anderson, now 21, experienced similar expressions of affection when returning home after a weekend away. Falco also has a daughter named Macy.

The panel also touched on the emotional impact of losing several beloved cast members since the series concluded, including the late James Gandolfini, who portrayed Tony Soprano, as well as Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano), Tony Sirico (Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri), and Jerry Adler (Herman "Hesh" Rabkin). Falco expressed how deeply those losses affected her: "I can’t even begin to tell you, first and foremost, about how many of those people are gone. It still knocks me off my feet."

Reflecting on her decade-long experience with the show, Falco confessed she still struggles to intellectually process what the role meant to her. She described watching the series again as a powerful and evocative experience.

The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York, is currently celebrating The Sopranos with a special exhibit titled "Stories and Set Designs for The Sopranos," running through May 31 in the Amphitheater Gallery. This exhibition offers fans a unique glimpse into the creative process behind the landmark series.