Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler said her late co-star James Gandolfini responded with reassurance after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis [1].

The account highlights the personal bond between the two actors, who played father and daughter on the television series The Sopranos, and the emotional toll of facing a chronic illness at a young age.

Speaking on the Question Everything podcast on July 9, Sigler said she recounted the conversation following her diagnosis in 2003 [1]. She described how Gandolfini attempted to ease the burden of the news by reminding her of her youth and the scale of the situation.

"I remember his first reaction was, ‘You’re just a kid,’" Sigler said [1].

Sigler said that Gandolfini encouraged her not to feel pressured to understand every aspect of the disease immediately. He emphasized that the diagnosis was a massive event for someone of her age to process.

"You don’t have to know it all. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You’re so young, and this is so big," Sigler said [1].

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerves, causing communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Sigler has spent years speaking publicly about her journey with the condition, an effort to raise awareness and support for others facing similar diagnoses.

Gandolfini, who died in 2013, was known for his intense portrayal of Tony Soprano, but Sigler's recollection focuses on his capacity for empathy and support behind the scenes.

““I remember his first reaction was, ‘You’re just a kid.’””

By sharing this interaction, Sigler provides a glimpse into the supportive professional environment of The Sopranos cast and underscores the psychological challenge of receiving a life-altering medical diagnosis during early adulthood.