Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Jamie-Lynn Sigler (born May 15, 1981) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Sigler in 2007
Born (1981-05-15) May 15, 1981 (age 43)
Other namesJamie-Lynn DiScala
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Spouses
A. J. DiScala
(m. 2003; div. 2006)
Cutter Dykstra
(m. 2016)
Children2

Early life

Sigler was born in Jericho, New York, on May 15, 1981,[1] the daughter of Steve and Connie Sigler. She has two brothers, Adam and Brian.[1] Her father was the founder of the Men's Senior Baseball League. Sigler is of Greek-Jewish and Romanian-Jewish descent through her father, and of Cuban descent through her mother.[2]

Sigler's mother was raised Catholic but converted to Judaism upon marrying Sigler's father.[3] She attended Jericho High School[4] and studied at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Old Bethpage, New York.[4]

Career

Acting

In 1997, Sigler was cast as Meadow Soprano, daughter of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos.[5] When her manager first told her about auditioning for The Sopranos, Sigler thought she would have to sing soprano.[6] She continued to play the role through the series finale in 2007.[7][8]

Sigler played the title role in Cinderella on tour and at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in 2001.[9][10] She then spent five months on Broadway from October 2002 through February 2003 playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast.[11]

In 2004, Sigler starred as "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss in the USA television movie Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss. In that same year, she had her first starring feature film role, Extreme Dating, an independent film. In 2005, Sigler starred in Love Wrecked and the following year in Homie Spumoni, when she played the role of Alli, the girlfriend of Renato/Leroy (Donald Faison) directed by Mike Cerron.[12]

In 2008, Sigler appeared as herself in 13 episodes of the fifth and sixth season of the HBO series Entourage. In the fifth season, she appeared as the love interest of the character Sal 'Turtle' Assante, portrayed by Jerry Ferrara. She returned as a recurring guest star for season six of the series, after becoming Ferrara's real-life girlfriend.[13] On November 17, 2008, Sigler guest-starred as Jillian on the TV series How I Met Your Mother in the episode "Woooo!".[14] On the December 6, 2008, airing of Saturday Night Live, she appeared as the checkout girl for the Digital Short music video "Jizz in My Pants" by The Lonely Island.[15]

In 2009, Sigler starred in the psychological thriller film Beneath the Dark, which originally had a working title of Wake.[16] The same year, she appeared on ABC's Ugly Betty in a five-episode arc.[17] From 2012 to 2013, she appeared as a main character in the short-lived series Guys with Kids.

In 2019, Sigler appeared on the game show Pyramid alongside Steve Schirripa.[18]

In 2020, Sigler starred as a featured player in the Adult Swim sitcom Beef House.[19]

Other endeavors

In 2001, Sigler released a pop album called Here to Heaven, which featured the single "Cry Baby." In 2012, she collaborated with Romeo Santos on the single "You" and appeared in its music video.[20]

In 2002, Sigler co-authored her autobiography, Wise Girl: What I've Learned About Life, Love, and Loss.[21]

In 2024, Sigler began a podcast with fellow actress with Christina Applegate called MeSsy about their friendship based on both being diagnosed with MS.[22]

Personal life

Sigler met Abraxas "A.J." DiScala when she was 19, and he became her manager.[23] They began dating shortly before she turned 21,[23] and married on July 11, 2003.[24] She subsequently changed her name to Jamie-Lynn DiScala.[24] They separated in September 2005, and she resumed using her maiden name.[24] She then dated restaurateur Scott Sartiano from 2006 to 2008.[25]

In 2008, Sigler visited Israel through the Birthright Israel program and was moved by the trip, calling Israel "one of the most beautiful, inspiring places [she's] ever been to". She said that the trip gave her a greater understanding of her Jewish ancestry.[26] Also in 2008, she began a relationship with actor Jerry Ferrara, whom she met while guest-starring on Entourage as a love interest of Ferrara's character.[27] They split up in 2009.[28] She later dated football player Mark Sanchez.[29]

In 2012, Sigler began dating baseball player Cutter Dykstra, the son of former Major League Baseball player Lenny Dykstra.[30][31] The two became engaged on January 28, 2013,[32] and announced in February 2013 that they were expecting their first child.[33] Sigler gave birth to their first son on August 28, 2013.[34] They were married in Palm Springs, California, on January 16, 2016.[35] The couple had their second son on January 15, 2018.[36]

In January 2016, Sigler revealed that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 20 years old.[37] In 2000, while filming Campfire Stories in Hamburg, New Jersey, Sigler was paralyzed from the waist down for several days. This symptom turned out to be related to multiple sclerosis, but it was misdiagnosed as Lyme disease at the time.[38][39] In 2023, Novartis hired Sigler to star in a TV commercial for their multiple sclerosis drug Kesimpta.[40]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997A Brooklyn State of MindYoung Angie
2001Campfire StoriesNatalie
2003Death of a DynastySexy Woman No. 3
2005Extreme DatingAmy Baker
Love WreckedAlexis Manetti
2006Homie SpumoniAlli Butterman
BlindersAlexaShort film
Dark RideCathy
2007New York City SerenadeLynn
2010Trophy WifeChristinaShort film
Beneath the DarkAdrienne
2012Divorce InvitationDylan
I DoAli Federman
JewtopiaHannah Daniels
2015Anatomy of the TideGina Harper
2017JusticeMelissa Green
Gangster LandLulu Rolfe
2019Mob TownJosephine Barbara
2020The Neighbor in the WindowKaren Morgan
2022I'm on FireGinaShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999–2007The SopranosMeadow Soprano72 episodes
2004Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi FleissHeidi FleissTV movie
Will & GraceRo2 episodes
2005Newlyweds: Nick and JessicaJamie-Lynn DiScalaEpisode: "The Orange Bowl"
2005–2007Higglytown HeroesMs. Fern3 episodes; voice role
2007The GatheringMaggy RuleMiniseries
2008How I Met Your MotherJillianEpisode: "Woooo!"
2008–2009EntourageJamie-Lynn Sigler13 episodes
2009Ugly BettyNatalie5 episodes
2010BackwashPrudenceEpisode: "Chapter Eight: Lake Pupik"
2011Criminal BehaviorBrooke KrossTV movie
Drop Dead DivaTina HowardEpisode: "Change of Heart"
2012Last Man StandingGabriellaEpisode: "Take Your Daughter to Work"
2012-2013Guys with KidsEmily17 episodes
2014DadsElsaEpisode: "Bully Gene"
2015The Christmas NoteGretchen DanielsMovie
2016CSI: CyberSasha BoydEpisode: "5 Deadly Sins"
Baby DaddySara Gilcrest2 episodes
2017Mommy, I Didn't Do ItVera DuttonTV movie
2018Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Road Less TraveledRachel
Magnum P.I.ToniEpisode: "Bad Day to Be A Hero"
2019–2020Elena of AvalorPrincess Rebeca3 episodes
2020Beef HouseDetective Megan Dungerson6 episodes
2021–2023Big SkyTonya WalshMain role (season 3), recurring (season 2)

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRole
2002"Juliet"LMNTLaundromat Girl
2002"Through the Rain"Mariah CareyKirsten
2003"Sunrise"Simply RedGirl
2008"Jizz in My Pants"The Lonely IslandCheck-Out Girl

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryProjectResultRef.
1999Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Sopranos (season 1) Won[41]
2000The Sopranos (season 2) Nominated[42]
2001The Sopranos (season 3) Nominated[43]
2002The Sopranos (season 4) Nominated[44]
2004The Sopranos (season 5) Nominated[45]
2006The Sopranos (season 6 - Part 1) Nominated[46]
2007The Sopranos (season 6 - Part 2) Won[47]

Discography

References