Drea de Matteo, also known professionally as Dre, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter best known for her roles as Adriana La Cerva in the HBO series The Sopranos, Joey Tribbiani's girlfriend Alex Garrett in the NBC sitcom Friends, and Wendy Case in FX's Sons of Anarchy.
De Matteo was born on January 19, 1972, in Queens, New York. Her mother, Donna, was a playwright and playwriting teacher, and her father, Albert, was a furniture manufacturer. She has two siblings, an older brother, and a younger sister.
De Matteo studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and worked as a bartender and waitress in Manhattan while pursuing her acting career. She made her acting debut in the 1995 film The Basketball Diaries, in which she played the role of a high school student.
De Matteo's breakthrough role came in 1999, when she was cast as Adriana La Cerva in the hit HBO series The Sopranos. Her performance earned her an Emmy Award in 2004 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2002, De Matteo was cast as Joey Tribbiani's girlfriend, Alex Garrett, in the NBC sitcom Friends. She also appeared in the 2003 film The Perfect Score and the 2004 film Assault on Precinct 13.
In 2008, De Matteo was cast as Wendy Case in the FX series Sons of Anarchy. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In addition to acting, De Matteo is also a singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, I Don't Wanna, in 2004. She has also written and performed songs for several films, including The Sopranos: Road to Respect, The Perfect Score, and Assault on Precinct 13.
De Matteo currently stars in the Showtime series Ray Donovan, for which she has been nominated for two Critics' Choice Television Awards. She also stars in the web series Easy to Assemble, which won a Streamy Award in 2009.
Throughout her career, De Matteo has become known for her powerful and versatile acting performances, and her willingness to take on unconventional roles. She is widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
