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Entertainment • Actress

Drea de Matteo

Drea de Matteo is an American actress known for her television work, especially as Adriana La Cerva on HBO's The Sopranos.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Drea de Matteo is an American actress known for her television work, especially as Adriana La Cerva on HBO's The Sopranos. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for that role in 2004 and later appeared in series including Joey and Desperate Housewives.

Early life

Drea de Matteo was born in Queens, New York City, and her birth name is Andrea Donna de Matteo. Available sources identify her as American and note her New York origin.

Breakthrough role

She became widely known for portraying Adriana La Cerva on HBO's The Sopranos. This role earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2004.

Television career

After The Sopranos, de Matteo appeared in series including Joey, Desperate Housewives, and later Shades of Blue. Sources also list Sons of Anarchy among her notable television credits.

Awards and recognition

Her principal major award is the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, won for The Sopranos in 2004. IMDb and other sources also list additional nominations and wins, though the provided results do not detail them fully.

Key facts

  • Born Andrea Donna de Matteo in Queens, New York City.
  • Best known for playing Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2004.
  • Also appeared in television series such as Joey, Desperate Housewives, and Sons of Anarchy.
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Canadian context

No strong Canada-specific connection is identified in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Drea de Matteo?
Drea de Matteo is an American actress best known for playing Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos.
What is Drea de Matteo's birth name?
Her birth name is Andrea Donna de Matteo.
What is Drea de Matteo best known for?
She is best known for her role as Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos.
Did Drea de Matteo win an Emmy Award?
Yes. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for The Sopranos.
What other TV roles is she known for?
She is also known for playing Gina Tribbiani in Joey and Angie Bolen in Desperate Housewives.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drea_de_Matteo
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, birthplace, occupation, years active, Emmy award, and core credits.
  2. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/es/person/drea-de-matteo/umc.cpc.7js0cis9h29nxz5v9hwexlhfg
    Supports: Biography summary and notable roles including The Sopranos, Joey, and Desperate Housewives.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/person/drea-de-matteo/umc.cpc.7js0cis9h29nxz5v9hwexlhfg
    Supports: Career overview and later role in Shades of Blue.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005576/
    Supports: Birth name, birthplace, occupation, and awards summary.