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In this archive episode of Here's the Thing, Alec Baldwin talks with acclaimed actor Edie Falco about her career-defining roles on television and stage, her upbringing on Long Island, and her fiercely independent approach to life and work. Falco discusses the relaxed audition that landed her the role of Carmella Soprano on The Sopranos, the reality of working on the series during her private battle with breast cancer, and her later starring role as Jackie Payton on Nurse Jackie. The conversation explores how her background shaped her self-reliance, her path to sobriety, and her journey into single parenthood through adoption.
Throughout the interview, Falco and Baldwin examine the mechanics of television production, the grueling schedules of prestige dramas, and the contrast between the turbulent family lives of her characters and her own single life in Manhattan. Falco reflects on why she prefers working with kind, respectful crews and how mindfulness and Buddhist meditation replaced her earlier coping mechanisms. The episode offers a candid, grounded look at a major television star who remains notoriously private and fiercely protective of her boundaries.
The episode opens with the iHeart Podcast branding, followed by a series of product and service advertisements that set the tone for the show.
Alec Baldwin welcomes listeners and introduces the guest, Edie Falco, outlining the focus of the interview on her career and personal journey.
Falco and Baldwin delve into the production environment, her relationships with writers and cast, and how the show’s creative process shaped her experience.
Falco shares her breast cancer diagnosis during The Sopranos, the impact on her life and work, and how she managed treatment while filming.
Falco talks about her decision to adopt children, her approach to single parenting, and how motherhood influenced her personal and professional outlook.
Falco reflects on her upcoming memoir, future acting roles, and her aspirations to inspire others through her story.
Falco discusses her sobriety, involvement with Buddhism, and how spiritual practices have supported her mental health and resilience.
The conversation shifts to Edie Falco’s move from television to potential new projects after Nurse Jackie’s final season.
Falco explains how the role of Nurse Jackie came about, from reading the script to the character’s appeal.
She reflects on the unpredictability of a seven‑season run and the balance between work and family life.
Falco highlights the importance of a supportive crew and the culture she fostered on Nurse Jackie.
Unaware of The Sopranos' Gravityinsight
Edie Falco admits she had no idea how massive The Sopranos would become and simply enjoyed being part of a well-received show.
Paying Off Student Loans with One Checkstory
Landing the pilot for The Sopranos provided Falco with a sum of money she had never seen before, allowing her to completely pay off her student loans.
David Chase's Reaction to Pickupstory
When The Sopranos was picked up, series creator David Chase reportedly put his head in his hands because he had only intended to make a pilot or a movie.
Finding Comfort in a Traditional Family TV Lifeinsight
Falco loved playing Carmella Soprano because the character's entrenched family life was completely diametrically opposed to her own single life in Manhattan.
Juggling Three Exhausting Jobs at Oncedata
Falco describes a period where she simultaneously performed in Oz, the play Sideman, and The Sopranos, leaving her exhausted and sick from overwork.
Secret Cancer Battle During The Sopranosstory
Falco reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemo, and radiation while keeping the condition entirely private from almost everyone on set.
Vetting Crews for Kindness Over Egostrategy
On Nurse Jackie, Falco and the production team made phone calls to check if potential crew members remained kind and manageable after long 16-hour days.
“All sins swarms upon you and upon your people.”
“I had to tell her, because they were trying to schedule around my chemo, because it knocks you out.”
“I adopted my son, and then three years later, I adopted my daughter.”
“I like animals. I always had this fantasy of working with animals.”
“I was ready, the script changed, it morphed into something that felt better to me, and that's how it happened.”
“I think she's diligent about her job. I think she takes it seriously. It's important to her to be good at it.”
Edie Falco says she is nothing like Carmela Soprano. Nor does she have much in common with Nurse Jackie. But Falco made these characters two of the most identifiable and human women in television history. She has an armful of Emmys, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards—and a cadre of dedicated fans—to prove it. Along the way, she's battled cancer, raised two children on her own, and is a recovering alcoholic. But Falco doesn't want your sympathy; she tells host Alec Baldwin that her greatest professional accomplishment is creating a fun, respectful atmosphere on-set. She credits her multiple successes to good luck, great mentors, and says there's no predicting which way her career could have gone—or will go yet. Originally aired April 28th, 2015. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10,634 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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