Drea de Matteo, known for her role in "The Sopranos," has stated that her decision to join the subscription platform OnlyFans was a "political statement" made after financial difficulties threatened her home and a perceived alienation from the entertainment industry over her views.
De Matteo, 54, shared during an appearance on Jamie Kennedy's "Hate to Break It to Ya" podcast that the platform provided a financial lifeline, enabling her to save her home from foreclosure. She explained that the income from OnlyFans allowed her to gain financial independence and pursue entrepreneurial ventures, such as her clothing line ULTRAFREE and her podcast of the same name, without relying on traditional Hollywood roles.
"In some ways, the OnlyFans page was almost like a political statement on my part in a way," de Matteo said. She described her motivation as a defiant "F--- you" to the system and its corporations. "I don’t need to work for your f---ing corporation."
Career and Financial Challenges
The actress revealed that despite her success on "The Sopranos," she was not as financially secure as many assumed. She stated that she had never been intensely career-driven and often returned to acting only when she needed income to cover expenses like her mortgage.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, de Matteo said her ability to secure acting work became more restricted. She declined roles that required vaccination, a stance that eventually led to her agent dropping her due to the limited work available, according to the actress. This decrease in acting income exacerbated her financial troubles. While she had taken a mortgage forbearance, she later began receiving foreclosure notices. Although she eventually resolved the foreclosure, a lien remained on her property.
OnlyFans as a Solution
De Matteo announced her OnlyFans account in August 2023, stating that it was initially intended as a placeholder for a podcast she feared might be censored. However, her financial situation led her to use the platform for income. She reported that within 75 minutes of posting a bikini photo, she had earned $75,000, which was enough to pay off the lien on her house.
She clarified that the content on her page is not exclusively adult-themed, stating, "I only got naked once." This instance, she explained, was a protest against geoengineering, where she painted her body with protest art that included the message "stop geoengineering." De Matteo also suggested that many subscribers are drawn to her page due to her character, Adriana La Cerva, from "The Sopranos," referring to it as "Adriana's fan page."
Clarification on Son's Involvement
De Matteo also addressed previous reports about her teenage son's involvement in creating content for her OnlyFans page. She clarified that while her children were aware of her plans and she discussed the content with them, her son's role was limited. She explained that he edited a single photo of her dressed as a superhero, not regular content for the account. The attention surrounding these reports, she said, negatively impacted her son, causing him to be teased by classmates and creating strain in their relationship as she coached him through the backlash.