Jamie-Lynn Sigler Finds Her Inner Diva

October 19, 2011 | by Jesse Hancock

You probably know her best as Meadow Soprano, the sassy young daughter of headstrong Tony Soprano from HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The Sopranos.” Or maybe you know her from “Entourage?” She plays herself, you know.  Well, an exaggerated “version of herself.”  If you think she has a familiar face, you’re right. She has been on episodes of “Ugly Betty,” “Will and Grace,” and “How I Met Your Mother,” to name a few.

The amazingly talented Sigler took time recently to talk with us about her role on the season finale of Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.”

David Magazine: What role did you play on “Drop Dead Diva?”

Jamie Lynn: I played Tina. Jane Bingham (the main character) gets assigned my case. Tina’s brother is on death row. He knows his day is coming up, and keeps tabs on his sister through a cousin.  My character is dying from a heart problem she has had since childhood. She is estranged from her brother and hasn’t spoken to him in years. He wants to give her his heart, and he asks for Jane’s help to see if there is a way they could do an execution where it would not damage his heart so it would be healthy enough to give to her. They were planning lethal injection, would damage his heart. She is torn about the offer.  As much as she wants a new heart, she feels like she is benefiting off something her brother did, and it is hard for her.

David Magazine: Will your character be in any future episodes? Will it be a recurring role?

Jamie Lynn: I think this will be a one-time role.  I love Josh Berman, the producer. We did a pilot together last year. We jokingly talked about finding a way to bring Tina back.  I don’t know. We’ll see.

David Magazine: Is it true the role was written specifically for you by Josh Berman?

Jamie Lynn: I adore Josh. He is a good friend. He and I had been talking a lot about me being on the show. When this idea came up, he just thought of me.  He has this thing where he loves to see me cry. I think he wanted to give me a role where I could do that a lot.

David Magazine: Are you a fan of the show? What do you like best about “Drop Dead Diva?”

Jamie Lynn: Yes, I’m a fan of everyone on the show.  They are all theater actors, and I come from theater.  The show touches you. I love a good balance of drama and comedy. I love all the stories. I think the episodes are out there and fun, and I think everyone is super talented.  Brooke Elliott (Jane) is amazing. I was a fan of the show before I knew Josh.

David Magazine: Why do you think audiences connect with the show so much? Why do you think gay audiences connect with it so much?

Jamie Lynn: I think audiences connect with it because it has a lot of heart. It’s about finding that inner diva, basically, inside us.  That’s what happened with Jane’s character. I don’t know if I can single out exactly why it appeals to gay audiences. I think it appeals to everyone. Maybe gays just know quality television?

David Magazine: You are good friends with Lance Bass, who was also a guest on this show this past season.  How long have you two been friends, and what else have you worked on with him? 

Jamie Lynn: Lance and I have been friends for eleven years. He’s one of my bestest friends. He was staying with me in my apartment when he came out so publicly. We’ve been through a lot together. He’s amazing. We met at a charity event, and we did a movie together that he was producing.  He did a little cameo with Amanda Bynes, and we shot it in the Dominican Republic one summer. We lived in a house together and had so much fun. Before I lived inL.A., I would stay with him whenever I came out toL.A. and he would stay with me in New York. Now I have a place inL.A. and he has one inNew York, so we switched.  We go back and forth and stay with each other. He is one of the greatest people I’ve ever known. He’s one of my best friends.

David Magazine: There are a lot more gay characters and themes in shows and movies these days.  Why do you think that is important? 

Jamie Lynn: I actually just had this discussion with someone. Where I work and live in New York  and in L.A. gays are accepted, and it’s much more open. I think it’s becoming more accepted, and I think it’s amazing that it’s being portrayed that way in movies and television. It’s important for the other areas in the world where people don’t feel they can be as open. Movies and television are how people learn a lot of things, and the opinions they make are influenced, so I think it’s very important to show how acceptable it is to be gay. Writers and actors and directors have a big of influence over a lot of people. It’s great to be involved with projects like that where there are open characters.

David Magazine: Are there too many gay stereotypes on shows?

Jamie Lynn: I think those types of characters are fun, but we are seeing it get better. I have a wide array of gay and straight friends.  There are all types of people. We are getting closer to all types of people being accepted in movies and television.

David Magazine: Like I asked your friend Lance Bass, do you consider yourself an advocate for the gay community?  If so, what does that mean to you?

Jamie Lynn: Absolutely. Being an advocate means I support the right to marry and do everything. Gay people are my family, my best friends. I’d say half of my best friends are gay. I want them to enjoy everything, and they deserve everything. I hate even talking about them like they are a separate people. That bothers me because they are not. They are no different. How we love and want to love is always up to us. It is one of the greatest gifts we have as human beings, so who is anyone to tell you differently?

David Magazine: What character do people most recognize you for?

Jamie Lynn: I think Meadow Soprano (from HBO’s “The Sopranos”), but since doing “Entourage” I get my name called out a lot, since I play a version of myself.

David Magazine: How does being on “Entourage” compare to being on “The Sopranos?”

Jamie Lynn: I had a great time on both shows. They were both for HBO, which is an amazing network to work for.  One is a comedy, the other was a drama. “Entourage” is much looser; you can improve a little bit more. With “The Sopranos” I didn’t even want to stray from those words because they were so beautiful and perfect. I am very grateful that I got to work on both shows back-to-back.

David Magazine: What other shows do you like to watch?

Jamie Lynn: I loveAMC’s “The Killing.” Oh my god, I bought the first season and carry around my iPad to watch it. It’s amazing. I’m in love with the main girl. I just think she’s awesome! The actress is Mireille Enos, and she plays Seattle homicide detective Sarah Linden. I also love “Glee.” I’m a musical theater geek, and if I were fifteen or sixteen when that show was on I would have begged somebody to put me on it.

David Magazine: Do you have any Atlanta connections?

Jamie Lynn: One of my best friends inL.A. grew up inAtlanta. I got to spend the week with her and her family in Atlanta for her baby’s first birthday. I love Atlanta and shot Josh Berman’s pilot here last year. We were here for about a month.

David Magazine: Do you still have your side jewelry business?

Jamie Lynn: I do that with my friend. It was a hard time for us to launch a jewelry business with the economy like it is and gold so expensive. We are still coming up with ideas. I sketch from time to time. We have all of our stuff, and we are making the line a lot wider before we re-launch it.

David Magazine: What’s next for you? Who would you love to work with?

Jamie Lynn: I’m shooting three movies back-to-back. One is called “Jewtopia.” It is based on this off Broadway play that played in L.A. for a year and a half. It’s really funny. After that I’m doing a movie called “Divorce Invitation” by this Bollywood director. It’s his first American film. Then I’m doing this other independent film. It’s more of a dramatic role. So, I’m keeping busy. The list of who I’d like to work with is very long, but at the same time I’ve already been able to work with so many great people. It’s fun to discover.