Former “The Sopranos” star Drea de Matteo has openly praised OnlyFans for providing her financial stability and allowing her to distance herself from what she describes as the “shifty” practices of Hollywood. The 52-year-old actress, known for her role as Adriana La Cerva in the iconic HBO series, recently shared her experiences transitioning from traditional acting to content creation on the subscription-based platform.
In a clip from “TMZ Presents Famous & Naked,” de Matteo candidly discussed her motivations for joining OnlyFans. She revealed that her decision was initially driven by financial desperation, with her bank account dwindling to just a few hundred dollars and her home facing foreclosure. “Did I do it out of desperation? F*** yes I did,” she admitted, emphasizing that the move ultimately empowered her to take care of her family.
De Matteo’s shift to OnlyFans came after she found herself blacklisted in Hollywood for refusing to get the Covid vaccine. This stance led to a loss of acting work and her agent dropping her, pushing her into a precarious financial situation. However, the actress claims that within five minutes of launching her OnlyFans profile, she made enough money to pay back her mortgage foreclosure.
The former actress has been vocal about her disillusionment with the entertainment industry, describing Hollywood as a “freaking cesspool” and criticizing the current state of television. She expressed frustration with the industry’s approach to content creation and its treatment of actors, stating, “The industry has just… everything that our generation has pushed for, whether it be better television, whether it be human rights, body sovereignty, all of these things, they took it and made an aberration out of it.”
De Matteo’s success on OnlyFans has not only resolved her immediate financial troubles but has also provided her with the means to launch her own fashion brand, ULTRAFREE. She tearfully acknowledged the platform’s impact on her life, saying, “OnlyFans saved my life, 100 per cent. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but it really did save us.”
While de Matteo appears to have no immediate plans to return to acting, she hasn’t completely closed the door on her Hollywood career. She mentioned that any future acting projects would need to be particularly meaningful to her, stating, “I’d rather bet on myself than bet on the man at this point.”
The actress’s journey from “The Sopranos” to OnlyFans highlights the changing landscape of entertainment and the new opportunities available to performers in the digital age. It also sheds light on the financial pressures faced by many in the industry and the creative solutions some have found to overcome them.
As de Matteo continues to build her brand outside of traditional Hollywood structures, her story serves as a testament to the evolving nature of celebrity and the power of taking control of one’s own narrative and financial future.
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