Drea de Matteo: Down Town Girl

On Joey, de Matteo will play Gina, Joey's hairdresser sister. Same accent as Adriana, same hair, "but more attitude, more self-knowing, tougher than Adriana ever was."

And what about the clothes--will Gina be cutting hair in Manolos? De Matteo laughs. "You know, I hate fashion. No, I like fashion, I just hate clothes. No, no, I like clothes, I just hate how it's all about who wears what. I have my own style, and I lean on that."

De Matteo is co-owner (with an ex-boyfriend) of Filth Mart, a downtown NYC store that some credit with starting the low-rise jean and retro rock T-shirt crazes. 'And as soon as I saw someone else wearing them, I hated them and wouldn't wear them anymore," she admits. Today she is in vintage Levi's bell-bottoms, vintage cowboy boots and a black lacy tank. "You know what it is? People think because Adriana was such a babe and that she cared so much about her Versace and Armani that I must be just like her. But I'm this tomboy slob who only showers when I have to. I could care less about the red carpet. I hate that shit."

Really? No beauty regime? She laughs. "OK, here it is. I hardly ever wash my makeup off and I wear a lot of it. It's just too much of an ordeal to wash it off and put it on again. Every morning, Shooter sings to me while he blow-dries my hair: 'Please Come to Boston' or 'Loving Her Was Easier.'"

'And you know how Adriana had those great tits? Well, I don't. They did it all with those chicken cutlets that push you up. But mine are flat and I don't want them to droop when I get older, so every night I wear this sleepy bra to bed. It's just this elastic thing that they say will make them stay up. Who knows?"

"C'mon, Drea," I gasp. "You just look so put together..."

"Oh, get over it," she shrieks. She does have some strong ideas about fashion, though. I don't even have to bother with the questions. "My worst fashion mistake? All these fucking tattoos that take like three hours a day to cover before I shoot a scene. The thing I feel most comfortable in? Probably something by Vivienne Westwood, because she makes clothes for women with real asses. What I wear every single day of my life? Vintage jeans. The accessory I couldn't live without? I'd have to say Shooter, because when he's with me I feel so fucking perfect.

"Did I tell you how great Shooter looks in my clothes?"

My mouth drops.

"Oh, you know these young guys [Shooter is 25], they have no hang-ups. I swear, he looks better in my suits than I do. I, of course, can't fit into his pants because his hips are narrower than mine. But he looks fabulous in my clothes. I'm wild about him."

"So, how long will you be in L.A. before you start acting like a prima donna?" I tease.

"Never, never, never. I know that if this show works out my life is going to change in ways that I can't even imagine. But I know who I am. I have my family, my friends, Shooter. I'd rather be working with music. I swear, Shooter's gonna put the 'O' back in country Wait until people hear him, they're gonna go nuts. I'm trying to get a tribute to Waylon Jennings together. I've talked with all kinds of great musicians: Kid Rock, Bob Dylan, the White Stripes, Beck, Sheryl Crow. Everyone adored the guy and they want in. I'm going to try to produce it. We'll see. But trust me--you come see me next year, I'm still going to be the same Drea. I'll be as kooky as ever."

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