Alec Baldwin Interviews Edie Falco on Here's the Thing

Two prominent Hamptonites made great radio together last week when The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie star Edie Falco joined Alec Baldwin on his Here’s the Thing podcast.

In the nearly 40-minute interview, Falco, who regularly visits the Hamptons, discusses her storied career, including her role as Carmela Soprano on what TV Guide called “The best television show in history.”

Falco’s work on The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie—Season 7 is currently airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime—has earned her multiple Emmys, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, but she retains a certain accessibility and a down-to-Earth attitude.

The actress talks about growing up on the South Shore of Long Island, like Baldwin, reveals how she broke into show business and how she got her groundbreaking role on The Sopranos. Falco also shares her struggles, including a battle with breast cancer, adopting and raising two children as a single mom and her 23 years of being a recovering alcoholic, a little like her Nurse Jackie character, Jackie Peyton, who is, in Season 7, desperately trying to stay clean and deal with the consequences after years of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction.

In spite of her personal difficulties and professional success, Falco told Baldwin that her greatest professional accomplishment is “creating a fun, respectful atmosphere on set.” And, always humble, she says her success is a product of excellent mentors and good luck.

Listen to Alec Baldwin’s full interview with Edie Falco below or stream on iTunes or wnyc.org.