NEW YORK — Edie Falco, the celebrated actress who defined an era of television with her gritty, complex portrayals of Carmela Soprano and Nurse Jackie, is ready to trade her character’s internal conflicts for a cape.
Speaking at a recent press conference at the Tribeca Festival Lisboa, the Emmy-winning star revealed her ambition to join the ranks of Hollywood’s superheroes.
“I’d like to be a female superhero,” Falco stated, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter.
For an actress synonymous with prestige drama, the move toward the fantasy-driven, effects-heavy world of Marvel or DC may seem unexpected. However, Falco explained the appeal lies precisely in that contrast. “It’s so out of my realm of experience, certainly in real life and in movies,” she said. “That would be a lot of fun.”
Falco built her career on finding the humanity in deeply flawed characters. Her performance as Carmela Soprano, the conflicted wife of a mob boss in HBO’s The Sopranos, earned her three Emmy Awards and cemented her place in television history. She followed that success with another acclaimed, complicated role in Nurse Jackie, playing a brilliant but drug-addicted emergency room nurse, which also earned her an Emmy.
During the press conference, Falco reflected on her career-long pursuit of such roles. “I look for those [complicated characters]. That’s what makes this exciting,” she shared. “To play someone with a less complicated life is less interesting.”
She also expressed gratitude for avoiding the typecasting that can plague actresses in Hollywood. “I’ve been very lucky… female characters are getting more interesting and complicated,” Falco said. “I imagine if you’re only ever playing young, beautiful, sexy women, it’s going to get harder as you get older.”
While Falco has not been officially cast in any upcoming superhero projects, her public interest signals a willingness to step into a new blockbuster arena. This follows her role as the human antagonist General Frances Ardmore in James Cameron’s 2022 sci-fi epic, Avatar: The Way of Water.
That role famously led to a viral moment when Falco admitted on The View that she had filmed her scenes four years prior and, after hearing no news, “assumed it came out and it didn’t do very well.” The film, of course, went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.
For now, fans can see Falco return to her dramatic roots, joining the cast of the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown for its fourth season.
FAQs
What did Edie Falco say about playing a superhero?
During a press conference at the Tribeca Festival Lisboa, Edie Falco stated, “I’d like to be a female superhero. It’s so out of my realm of experience… That would be a lot of fun.”
Why does Edie Falco want to play a superhero?
Falco explained that she is interested in a superhero role specifically because it is so different from the gritty, realistic, and complex characters she is famous for playing, such as Carmela Soprano and Nurse Jackie.
Is Edie Falco in a Marvel or DC movie?
No, as of November 2025, Edie Falco has not been cast in any Marvel or DC universe films. She has only expressed her interest in playing such a role in the future.
What are Edie Falco’s most famous roles?
Edie Falco is best known for her two iconic, Emmy-winning television performances: Carmela Soprano on HBO’s The Sopranos (1999-2007) and Jackie Peyton on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie (2009-2015).
What new show is Edie Falco in?
Edie Falco is a new main cast member in Season 4 of the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown, where she plays prison warden Nina Hobbs.
Did Edie Falco really think Avatar 2 flopped?
Yes. In a 2022 interview on The View, Falco admitted she filmed her scenes for Avatar: The Way of Water four years before its release. Because so much time had passed, she said she “assumed it came out and it didn’t do very well” because she hadn’t heard anything about it.
Who did Edie Falco play in Avatar: The Way of Water?
Edie Falco played General Frances Ardmore, the human commander of the RDA (Resources Development Administration) forces on Pandora and the primary antagonist of the film.
