Drea De Matteo'S Bold Break From Hollywood: From 'Sopranos' To Onlyfans And Beyond

Drea de Matteo's Unexpected Journey

Drea de Matteo, known for her iconic role in "The Sopranos," never envisioned herself as a career actress. In a candid conversation with Fox News Digital, she revealed her lack of interest in the Hollywood hustle. "After 'The Sopranos,' I really had no interest in doing it anymore," she confessed, explaining that acting was merely a means to pay the bills when necessary. "But to just continue being in that hamster wheel of Hollywood, I just didn’t have an interest in it."

A Pandemic-Induced Pivot

However, the pandemic threw a wrench in her plans. Both she and her boyfriend faced upheaval when he left his band, and she was pushed into joining OnlyFans to save her home from foreclosure. "The breaking point was when I had to join OnlyFans to save my home," the 54-year-old actress shared. California's mandates during COVID left her in financial jeopardy, despite promises of support that never materialized.

"I’m not allowed to do it anymore really because I … I guess I was too, I don’t know, transparent," de Matteo admitted regarding her acting career.

Launching 'ULTRAFREE PODCAST'

De Matteo's outspoken stance on vaccines further complicated her return to acting. Her new podcast, "THE ULTRAFREE PODCAST," emerged from her OnlyFans venture, which was initially meant to be a podcast platform behind a paywall. "We did wanna talk about the actual politics of the time," she explained. Her journey has been a mix of personal and professional challenges, including being dropped by her agent and left unsupported by her manager.

Redefining Success and Staying True

Despite these setbacks, de Matteo remains unfazed by public opinion. "I went from the middle class to no class, and then I went on OnlyFans and then, boom, I was like zero class, you know? Oh my God. But I don’t care," she stated, emphasizing her commitment to her family above all. As her new podcast launches, she insists it will steer clear of celebrity guests and focus on topical issues, encouraging listeners to "keep asking questions."