HBO Bergen dresses down for role on 'Sopranos'

During downtime in filming, the actress shared stories of her past.
By TERRY MORROW
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Polly Bergen was almost too classy for The Mob.
For her appearance tonight on "The Sopranos," the 73-year-old actress goes against her glamorous image to play Fran, the former mistress of Tony Soprano's late father.
"There was an essence of me that the producers thought was not right for the part," Bergen said during a telephone interview.
David Chase, the show's creator and writer, told Bergen he "wanted to stay on top" of decisions about her hair, wardrobe and makeup to transform the former Hollywood studios star into the earthy Fran.
As a result, "you almost can't recognize this is me," Bergen said.
It's an acting challenge Bergen was more than ready to handle. A longtime fan of "The Sopranos," she said she was "a bit terrified" to step onto the show's set the first day.
"I have such admiration for the writing and the directing and the other actors," Bergen said. "I was terrified I would not be able to keep up with the people I was working with."
Tales from yesterday
She managed. During breaks, the cast picked her memory about her work in Hollywood's golden age.
Bergen began her movie career in 1949 and has amassed more than 100 movie and TV roles during nearly 55 years in show business.
She shared tales of Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Dean Martin and other Hollywood icons with whom she has worked.
"They were so star-struck," she said, laughing, "and so was I."
Bergen's role in "The Sopranos" will be a pivotal one. Fran's meeting with Tony brings forth a revelation that the producers want to keep under wraps. Steve Buscemi, a regular on the series this season, directed the episode.
"It was this wonderful, wonderful, one-of-a-kind character," Bergen said of Fran. "It was a character with whom I fit. I know this woman I am playing so well.
"I have known 500 women just like her. I know this character better than I know someone who would be my sister. You don't know whether she is a good guy or a bad guy, which is true for so many characters on this show."