Drea De Matteo

About Drea De Matteo

Andrea Donna De Matteo, affectionately known as Drea (pronounced "dray"), entered the world on January 19, 1972, in Queens, New York, where she grew up in a well-off family as the youngest of three siblings and the sole daughter. Her parents are Donna, a playwright and teacher of playwriting at HB Studio in New York, and Albert A. De Matteo, who is involved in the furniture manufacturing business. With Italian roots, De Matteo's early years in Queens were followed by a move to Manhattan's Upper East Side, where her family resided in the former townhouse of Aretha Franklin.

Inspired by a memorable experience during a performance of "Cats," where she was called up from the audience and enchanted by the stage's allure, Drea initially set her sights on becoming a director while attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. However, her passion shifted towards acting once she started participating in classes. She made her screen debut in a low-profile independent film and had a minor role in the 1999 movie Meet Prince Charming. It was her audition for a single episode of the HBO series The Sopranos that truly changed her career; her impressive performance led the producers to enhance her role as Adriana La Cerva, the girlfriend of aspiring Soprano family member Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli. De Matteo's sultry beauty and formidable acting talent brought depth to Adriana, capturing her character's humor and tragic nuances. In 2004, her outstanding performance earned her an Emmy Award.

Although her time on The Sopranos concluded in 2004, that same year, Drea landed a lead role in Joey, a spin-off from the hit NBC sitcom Friends. Since her stint on the HBO series, she has appeared in various films, demonstrating her strong acting abilities; notable performances include her award-winning lead in Abel Ferrara's 'R Xmas and a supporting role in Prey for Rock & Roll. Drea describes herself as shy, yet she acknowledges her wild side as a multi-tattooed party enthusiast who favors casual attire and colorful language. For several years, she owned a vintage rock and roll clothing shop named "Filth Mart" in the East Village, which she has since closed but is contemplating reopening in Los Angeles. Drea has also expressed a brotherly bond with actor Vince Vaughn. In September 2022, she announced her plans to join OnlyFans, and the account officially launched in August 2023. As of February 2026, she boasts 559,000 followers on Instagram.