28
TheBupkisstar splurged on cigarettes and stressed about paying rent before catching her big break as Carmela Soprano.
In 1991, then-28-year-old Falco wasnt a household name.
Known forplaying Carmela Sopranoand the eponymousNurse Jackie, Falco, 59, now keeps things more low-key.
The things that bring me tremendous joy wouldve been a terrible bore for me at that time.
Falco became enamored with acting early while growing up and tagging along with her mother to auditions and rehearsals.
I couldnt believe this was something we were allowed to do.
Looking back, she is relieved that her career took off when it did.
After all, it did.
Below, Falco discusses crying to Joni Mitchell and paying rent in the West Village at 28.
Take me back to 1991, when you were 28.
What was life like, and where were you living?
Oh my God, 1991.
I was living in the West Village.
I am now living in the West Village, so that hasnt changed.
It was a crazy time.
I was chain-smoking and doing a fair amount of drinking.
How did you navigate becoming sober?
I realized that if I continued the way it was going, it would be a short-lived experiment.
I started[asking], so howd you do this?
And I followed them.
What was the soundtrack to your life at 28?
Joni Mitchell for as long as I can remember.
Dan Fogelberg, and James Taylor sort of folksy, nerdy.
I guess theyd call them emo now.
[Id] sit in my room and Id sing with Joni Mitchell, and cry about some boyfriend.
Oddly enough, Joni Mitchell is still the soundtrack of my life, all these years later.
How were you feeling about your life and career at that point?
Were there any roles at that point that you had turned down?
For the longest time, I didnt say no to anything because I wanted to be doing something.
No matter the project, there was something I could glean from it.
Learn something, meet somebody.
I never said no.
What was your biggest challenge at 28?
Money was always a problem.
I lived in a teeny apartment on West 4th Street in the West Village.
On a slow week, I wouldnt be able to cover.
I was a chain smoker at the time.
I was always worried about money.
What did you splurge on at 28, when you did have a good week waitressing?
Im embarrassed to say I would buy them by the carton.
That way I knew Id have them during lean times.
Cigarettes came before everything else.
It feels like Im talking about somebody else, but that was me.
As your career progressed, you attracted an entire fandom playing Carmela Soprano.
Do you think you wouldve been equipped for that kind of fame at 28?
No, I know I wouldnt have [been].
The thing you learn when youre in a self-destructive cycle is that youll screw it up.
You will screw it up one way or another.
You wont mean to.
But thats built into that cycle sabotage.
Im lucky in the way things rolled out in my life.
I didnt plan any of it, but I look back now like, what a gift.
Thank God that happened when it did.
I wasnt meant to have much success.
If I had money back when I was not taking care of myself, it could have been bad.
What was the most important thing you learned about life at 28?
Do the hard thing that you know you have to do.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
