Dr. Melfi Talks About Her Blues

By Rebecca Winters

Many psychotherapists consider Dr. Melfi, the leggy shrink who counsels murderous mafioso Tony Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos, one of television's most realistic depictions of their work. Now the actress who plays her, Lorraine Bracco, is ready to discuss a real-life mental-health problem of her own. In TV spots launching next month and on a website for Pfizer, the Brooklyn-born actress will describe her struggle with depression. Bracco is just the latest celebrity to go public with such a personal admission. Last summer Jane Pauley spilled the beans on her bipolar disorder, and this spring Brooke Shields is set to release a book on her postpartum depression. You thought talking about your couch time was taboo? Fuhgeddaboutit.