The Sopranos star explains why joining the subscription platform was about more than just money.
Drea de Matteo, known for her Emmy-winning role as Adriana La Cerva on the hit HBO series The Sopranos, recently opened up about her decision to join OnlyFans. She called it a “political statement” and a way to tell Hollywood she does not need to work for big corporations anymore.
The 54-year-old actress shared her story on Jamie Kennedy’s Hate to Break It To Ya podcast. She explained that starting her OnlyFans page was not just about making money. It was a stand against the entertainment industry that she felt had turned its back on her.
“In some ways, the OnlyFans page was almost like a political statement on my part in a way…It was like, ‘F*** you. I don’t have to work.’”
OnlyFans Became a Financial Lifeline During Hard Times
De Matteo was facing serious money problems before she joined OnlyFans. She had a lien on her house and was at risk of losing her home to foreclosure. Her house had flooded, which made it impossible to sell quickly. She was also caring for her mother who had dementia and raising two children.
The actress said people assume she is rich because of her famous role on The Sopranos. But that was not the case.
“Everyone sees me coming, they’re like, ‘Here comes that rich b* from The Sopranos.’ And it’s like, no, I’m not at all. In fact, you know, I live a pretty fing normal life. I had to do that [OnlyFans] page to get a lien off my house after foreclosure.”
She had only $10 in her bank account when she decided to give the platform a try. The actress had taken a mortgage forbearance during the pandemic, but later started receiving foreclosure notices.
Her Kids Encouraged Her to Join the Platform
De Matteo originally planned to use OnlyFans to start a podcast. She was worried about being censored on other platforms. But her children had a different idea.
When she came back from a trip to Tahoe, her kids told her to post pictures of her feet on the platform. She later shared a photo of herself in a bikini. The response was immediate.
“I put a picture up and within 75 minutes, the lien was paid.”
That lien was worth $75,000. In just over an hour, she had made enough money to save her home. In other interviews, she has said she made the money in as little as five minutes.
Hollywood Turned Its Back on Her Over Vaccine Stance
De Matteo said her political views and opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates made it hard for her to find work in Hollywood. She lost acting gigs because she refused to get vaccinated. Her agent eventually dropped her after deciding there was little work they could find for her.
The actress said she was never very career-driven. She would only return to acting when she needed money for her mortgage. But during the pandemic, that option disappeared.
Her brother had criticized her for not getting vaccinated. But later, when she had to start an OnlyFans page to save her home, he changed his tune.
“[During the pandemic], my brother was like, ‘You know, you’re risking everyone in your home’s life right now [by not being vaccinated].’ And then years later, when I ended up having to open up an OnlyFans page just to save my home, because nobody would help me at that time because I didn’t ‘do the right thing,’ he was like, ‘Your body, your choice. I’m with you all the way.’”
The Platform Gave Her Freedom From Corporate Control
De Matteo sees her OnlyFans success as a way to break free from the entertainment industry’s control. She told Kennedy that the income from the platform gave her the financial freedom to fund her own projects.
These include her clothing line ULTRAFREE and her ULTRAFREE podcast. She no longer has to depend on Hollywood studios or networks for work.
“It was like, ‘F* you,’” she said. “‘I don’t need to work for your f*ing corporation.’”
Kennedy summed up her decision by saying she launched her OnlyFans to be free. De Matteo agreed.
She Earns Tens of Thousands of Dollars Each Month
Since joining OnlyFans in August 2023, de Matteo has been making serious money. She told EW that she earns tens of thousands of dollars per month from the platform.
Her fans are mostly Sopranos viewers who remember her character Adriana. She joked that at 54, her page is like “Granny Sports Illustrated” but said it keeps her in shape.
In a February 2026 interview with People, she shared that she did her first fully nude shoot for the platform at age 54. She had never taken her clothes off for television before.
“I’d never even taken my clothes off for television, but I actually went for it, and it was fine.”
She Used OnlyFans to Fund Other Business Ventures
The money from OnlyFans did more than just save her house. It also helped her start new businesses. She was able to finance her ULTRAFREE clothing line and her podcast without help from Hollywood.
De Matteo said she was initially scared to join the platform. She worried about what it might mean for her children. But her kids were supportive. They told her that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and the Kardashians post pictures in bikinis online, so why could not she?
The actress has been open about her journey from the beginning. She announced her OnlyFans account on Instagram in August 2023 with a nude photo. She charges subscribers $15 a month for exclusive content.
Her Sopranos Fame Did Not Mean Financial Security
Despite winning an Emmy for her role on The Sopranos, de Matteo said she was never as wealthy as people think. She told Kennedy that she had enough to get by but was not rolling in money.
“I had enough to survive,” she said. “I would always go back to work when I knew I needed to put aside a chunk of money for the mortgage.”
She said people assume she is “made of f***ing money” because of her famous character. But that assumption was far from the truth. She lived a normal life and had to take drastic steps to keep her home.
She Turned Down a Marvel Role
In a 2024 interview with Variety, de Matteo revealed that she had turned down a role in a Marvel project. She said she had enough money from OnlyFans and did not need the work.
“I tried not to be outspoken. I tried to be under the radar. But I joined OnlyFans to save my fing house. And it was kind of, in a weird way, a political statement. Like a big ‘f it.’ Get comfortable being uncomfortable. That was my statement.”
She also shared that she believes half of Hollywood voted for Donald Trump, based on private messages she received from industry people.
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OnlyFans ‘Saved My Life’
De Matteo has not held back about how much OnlyFans has meant to her. She told DailyMail.com that the platform saved her life.
“It saved us,” she said. “OnlyFans saved my life, 100 per cent. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but it really did save us.”
She became emotional while talking about her struggles. She said anyone who wants to judge her can go ahead, but she hopes they never find themselves in the same position.
The actress has been through a lot. She lost her mother, her other mother ran out of money for caregiving, her house flooded, and she faced foreclosure all at the same time. OnlyFans gave her a way out.
Also Read: Jessie Cave Opens Up About OnlyFans Career Limits
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