With 21 months between the fifth and much-awaited sixth season of The Sopranos, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, 24—who plays Mafia princess Meadow Soprano—used her downtime to tackle different roles, filming two upcoming comedies and making a cameo in an episode of Will & Grace. But it was also a period of sadness, with her two-year marriage to her manager, A.J. DiScala, 35, ending last September. That wasn't the first challenge Sigler has had to face. When the actress, who lives in New York, started on the HBO series in 1998, she was struggling with an eating disorder, which she's since gotten under control. "I've definitely been in the public eye during years when girls go through a lot of changes," she says. "But I'm more confident now in the person I am."
On her first day back on The Sopranos
It felt like the first day of school! These characters are all second nature to us. So we're gabbing, talking, hanging out, and then they yell action and we're ready to go. Jim [Gandolfini] is such a real guy—he always does nice things. He brings in masseuses. He brings in sushi every Friday. The only way he's like Tony Soprano is that he feels like he has to take care of everybody, like he's responsible for everyone.
On suddenly being single
To come from where you thought your life was set—that this is who you're going to be with, that you're going to start having children with him very shortly—for it all of a sudden to kind of all not be there, it's scary. I met A.J. when I was 19. We started dating when I was almost 21. But from the day I met him he was the man in my life. So I basically went from being in high school and having my parents take care of me to A.J. being that caretaker. Now, being 24 and single again, you learn a lot about yourself. This is the time to find out what Jamie wants. Who Jamie is. But with A.J. and I there's no hatred, there's no anger. I still love him very much. I know he loves me. It's just what's best for both of us.
On her friends Nick and Jessica
It's funny, 'cause A.J. and I, when we met Nick [Lachey] and Jess [Simpson], we really bonded because we were both these young married couples. And it's kind of ironic that we both separated in the same year. A.J. and Nick are extremely close, and Jess and I are close, and we all respect and love each other just the same.
On starting the Jamie-Lynn Sigler Foundation, which helps girls with eating disorders
I was mentoring a bunch of girls at this treatment facility in Malibu and we still keep in touch via e-mail, but one of the girls who was in the house had to leave, in the middle of treatment, because her insurance ran out. She's not doing well now. I've heard of two people who passed away because of this. So that's one of the main focuses of my foundation [making sure those in need get help]. I think people view it as this vain disease. But it's becoming an epidemic.
On her own struggle
I look at an eating disorder as an addiction, so I'm always going to be in some stage of recovery. But it's not something I think about on a regular basis—which is something that I never thought I would ever be able to say. It's a wonderful place to be, to be able to live my life and find more important things to think about than food, exercise and to not really ever get on a scale except when I go to the doctor. I can't remember the last time when I thought about [having to] eat healthy. I mean, yes, I enjoy fruit and a salad. But pizza is now a big part of my diet. It's soooo good.
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