The Sopranosstar finds her second calling.
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The actress Aida Turturro studies me intently.
Youre like a new-breed dog with very white teeth, she declares with glee.
I should have straightened my teeth, but I liked them.
Its all good, babe), and squints at me again, kindly.
I tell her its in August, and she gasps.
When theyre powerful, theyre powerful.
I think youre one of the powerful ones, right?
Lately, Turturro has had a lot of practice giving oddly specific compliments to strangers.
Then she goes off.
In one of my favorite Turturro Cameos, she turnsfauxsolemn and says, Dont get shot.
Like my two husbands [onThe Sopranos].
Just dont do it.
You needed to do something, she says.
You needed to feel like you had a job or something to do that day.
And it helped me a lot to put on some lipstick and look at my script.
At first, she was confused by the whole thing.
The money didnt hurt either, especially in the pandemics early days.
Its been 20 fucking years!
I cant be Janice in two minutes!
I think I met her?
she says in the video.
Lovely, beautiful girl.
What is the name of it?Many Souls of Newark?
(Turturro isnt in, nor has she yet seen, the movie.)
Its so weird sometimes.
But this is life its a cycle, she says.
I still think Im unbelievably sexy.
I forget Im old.
She reaches her hands over her spiraling curls.
Fifty-fucking-eight years old, babe!
But I dont look it, right?
Sometimes the hairs sticking out.
If I get a five-star review, it touches my heart, she says.
Its been a gift to get these requests.
When Im old and gray, Ill be going, Look, they liked me!
They said they liked me!
I dont have any kids, so Ill be talking to my dog.
My dog is like, I dont speak English.
It is hard being older, Turturro says.
In other cultures, they respect it.
In this business, forget about it.
Often, when roles are hard to come by, she calls upon the spirit of Gandolfini for guidance.
When things are bad, Im like, Jimmy, can you help me?
I just ask him to get me work, she says.
I ask if she means they were once romantically involved.
When I met him, I was young.
He was sexy … [I said], We cannot be together until this play is over.
Then shit happened in life, so we didnt sleep together.
It was better to be best friends.
You want me, you dont what am I going to do?
Its not dissimilar to the philosophy guiding her Cameos.
Without warning, Turturro turns her attention back to me.
You are pretty special.
Let me just see something.
Hold on, she says, closing her eyes.
Theres a little block with the love thing.
Youre not wide open lately not quite open for love.
I go with it, and I tell her Ive been with the same person for a long time.
She nods as if she already knew.
When you have some moments, take a walk, go somewhere beautiful, and meditate or whatever.
And take the time and attempt to find out, maybe, whats that block for you.
I tell her I will, and she nods again.
Life is hard lately, Rach.
Its been hard for everyone, she says.
If you ever need me or need a friend, youve got my number, okay?
Before we hang up, she blows me a kiss.
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