Drea de Matteo Embraces OnlyFans Amid Career and Personal Challenges
At 51, acclaimed actress Drea de Matteo, celebrated for her role in "The Sopranos," has made a pivotal shift in her career by launching an OnlyFans account. This move, initiated in August 2023, is marked by her subscription price set at $15 per month under the moniker "THE SOPORNOS ;-)." De Matteo cites the platform as a safe and empowering alternative to the unpredictability she has faced in Hollywood.
Addressing Financial and Personal Hardships
The decision to join OnlyFans was driven by a series of both professional setbacks, including the loss of her agent, and personal hardships, such as nearing foreclosure on her home. De Matteo, a mother of two—Alabama Gypsy Rose and Waylon Albert "Blackjack"—expressed the acute pressure to provide for her family amidst these challenges.
"I used to have a lot of money. And then, all of a sudden, I went from being allowed to work to never being allowed to work again," de Matteo explained. The actress illuminated how shifts within the industry, further complicated by vaccine mandates and potential strikes, severely restricted her ability to work, ultimately pushing her towards OnlyFans not merely as a career alternative but as a necessity.
The Impact of Personal Loss
De Matteo's professional pivot coincided with significant personal grief. Her mother, Donna de Matteo, passed away at the age of 82 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for ten years. The death followed a cardiac episode on May 31, just before Drea was scheduled to visit her in New York for the summer. Donna was a notable figure in the theater community, having been an executive director of the HB Playwright Foundation and a founding member of the National Organization of Italian-American Women.
OnlyFans as a Safe Haven
In reflecting on the drastic changes in her life, Drea de Matteo shared that she found a sense of safety and support on OnlyFans that was lacking in her previous Hollywood engagements. "This new venture allowed me to support my family independently, free from the uncertainties of the entertainment industry’s job market and health policy mandates," she stated, underscoring the benefit of autonomy the platform provides.
