Actress Falco Rewarded for her Funny Side

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Falco Rewarded for her Funny Side

Edie Falco always considered herself a dramatic actress. While there were funny bits in "The Sopranos," the show was considered a drama.

Likewise, she's been praised on stage for roles in shows like "'Night, Mother," "Side Man," and "Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune."

In fact, when she read the first draft of the script for her Showtime program "Nurse Jackie," there were few laughs to be had.

So Falco is still surprised when she finds herself nominated for best comedy actress awards. Already she's been nominated for a Golden Globe, a Satellite Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for the show.

Executive producers Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius revamped the show as a dark comedy. "The idea that it's a comedy? I still struggle with that," Falco admits.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Laura Linney's Chances for an Emmy Next Year

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Laura Linney's Chances for an Emmy Next Year

The Los Angeles Times' Awards Insider column is already handicapping Laura Linney's chances of winning an Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series next year.

Tom O'Neil, the writer of the column, has already decided that Tina Fey will win again this year for "30 Rock," and so has moved on to next year's contest.

Linney is set to star in "The C Word" on Showtime, her series debut. In the hour-long comedy, Linney plays a suburban housewife facing cancer.

Showtime president Robert Greenblatt voiced his confidence in Linney, saying, "She will no doubt make this character both heartbreaking and disarmingly funny."

He added that he was thrilled she had chosen this show for her series debut.

Laura Linney has already won an Emmy every time she's been nominated. Her most recent win was for lead actress in a movie or miniseries for her portrayal of Abigail Adams in "John Adams."

She also won in the same category in 2002 for "Wild Iris." She also won for guest actress in a comedy series for her work in "Frasier" in 2004.

Linney has also received three Oscar nominations, two for lead actress in "You Can Count on Me" and "The Savages" and one for supporting actress in "Kinsey."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Edie Falco, No Longer a Soprano

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Edie Falco, No Longer a Soprano

Edie Falco rose to prominence on HBO's "The Sopranos," playing Carmela Soprano for eight years and winning three Emmys in the process.

Now she can be seen playing the title character on Showtime's "Nurse Jackie." Falco says the characters couldn't be more different.

Carmela was long-suffering. Jackie, on the other hand, is a self-styled vigilante with a pill habit.

She explains that Jackie is willing to go to any length to get what she wants, even if it means breaking the law, stepping on other people, or flushing a patient's ear down the toilet.

Falco was able to relate to Jackie's addiction. She's a recovering alcoholic who is 17 years sober.

The single mother of two had a lot of struggles before she suddenly hit it really big on "The Sopranos."

She was inspired to act by her mother's work in community theater. After studying acting at the State University of New York at Purchase, her early struggling years turned into more than a decade of work.

She kept waiting for her big break, but she never gave up on acting. She says until the '90s, she was always "one step above homelessness."

She says the constant money worries of that time were far more harrowing for her than getting sober or her bout with breast cancer.

The only "day job" she could take was waitressing. However, she gave up on waitressing when she gave up drinking.

After getting to play a number of recurring roles in a number of different shows as well as an extra role that grew into a speaking role in Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway," she finally got her break.

It very nearly didn't happen, though. She had been cast in a television series based on the movie "Fargo" with her playing Police Chief Marge Gunderson, the part Frances McDormand played in the film.

She had thought that would be her big break. Marge Gunderson had earned McDormand an Oscar, and the series was directed by Kathy Bates.

When the pilot didn't get picked up, Falco was devastated. On the other hand, if she had done that series, she wouldn't have been available to do "The Sopranos."

The experience has caused her to be more philosophic. "That taught me to sit back and let things happen the way they're supposed to."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

The Secret Diary of Billie Piper

Gina Wilhelm Actress - The Secret Diary of Billie Piper

Billie Piper has a varied career. She signed a record deal at age 15. She was considered by many fans to be one of Dr. Who's best traveling companions.

Now at age 25 she stars in the Showtime series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl."

In the title role of Belle, Piper frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the audience. That aspect of the show actually made her more nervous than the show's subject matter.

I, on the other hand, love to break the fourth wall. It doesn't make me nervous at all.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Chances are Good for Awards for "The United States of Tara"

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Chances are Good for Awards for "The United States of Tara"

"The United States of Tara" will air on Showtime starting Saturday, January 18, at 10 pm.

Gina Wilhelm Actress has noticed something of late on her Facebook account. There are ads for "The United States of Tara" everywhere.

Apparently, regardless of what comedy show I watch, it means I'll like "The United States of Tara."

"Scrubs?" Yup. "30 Rock?" Check. "The Simpsons?" You betcha. "The Daily Show?" Unbelievably, yes.

Now, it could just be that Gina Wilhelm Actress has astonishingly good taste in Funny, and the advertising is meant to imply that "The United States of Tara" is also Funny.

Otherwise, it's hard to say how a straight sit-com about a woman with multiple personality disorder is reminiscent of two workplace comedies, America's favorite animated dysfunctionals, and a comedy news parody.

"The United States of Tara" will air on Showtime starring actress Toni Collette as the aforementioned woman. In addition to her main personality, she's also a brooding teen, a '50s housewife, and a good ole boy.

Showtime has done well in terms of garnering awards lately. Last year David Duchovny won a Golden Globe for his work in "Californication," which was also nominated for best comedy series.

Duchovny and the show both received nominations this year. Mary-Louise Parker has been nominated the last two years in a row for her work on "Weeds." The program itself has also been nominated.

"Dexter" and its star, Michael C. Hall, have both been nominated for the last two years.

On top of that, cable shows not aired on HBO are getting more and more recognition at the Emmys.

Additionally, movies about people with multiple personalities are frequently well represented at award time. Joanne Woodward won an Oscar for her performance in "The Three Faces of Eve."

Sally Field won an Emmy for her turn in "Sybil," upsetting Jane Alexander, who was supposed to be a shoe-in.

Finally, Collette herself has won a number of critics' and other types of awards. She has also received numerous nominations for Emmys, Oscars, and Golden Globes.

Perhaps she and Showtime are hoping that this combination will get her the "major" awards that have just eluded her so far.

Gina Wilhelm Actress