Sarah Shahi is looking back on her time working with the late James Gandolfini, and she has nothing but fond memories of her former The Sopranos co-star. During a recent appearance on The Bossticks podcast, the actress opened up about filming one of the most memorable episodes of HBO’s iconic crime drama and revealed that Gandolfini gave her one of the best on-screen kisses she has ever experienced. Shahi appeared in the Emmy-winning sixth-season episode “Kennedy and Heidi” as Sonya, a Las Vegas showgirl and college student who becomes involved with Tony Soprano after the death of Christopher Moltisanti. The episode remains one of the most talked-about installments of the series, featuring Tony’s emotional journey to Las Vegas and his unexpected connection with Sonya.
Recalling her first impressions before filming their intimate scenes together, Shahi admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect. However, once she met Gandolfini, her perspective quickly changed.
According to the actress, the late star’s charisma and presence were impossible to ignore. She described him as “larger than life” and praised the warmth he showed her from the very beginning. Shahi shared a story about how Gandolfini missed their first day of shooting and later sent her a dozen roses along with a humorous apology note signed “the fat man.”
The actor’s generosity didn’t stop there. Shahi revealed that after she jokingly told him he should send her designer shoes instead of flowers, she returned to her hotel room to find the exact pair waiting for her.
While discussing the filming of their romantic scenes, Shahi didn’t hold back. She revealed that their chemistry was surprisingly strong and called Gandolfini one of the best kissers she had ever worked with.
“I remember thinking to myself, how am I going to get turned on by this 47-year-old large balding man?” she recalled. “But, oh boy, did it work for me.”
The actress also praised Gandolfini’s dedication to his craft, describing him as a committed method actor. She remembered how seriously he approached even small details while filming scenes involving peyote and hallucinogenic experiences in the Nevada desert.
One particularly memorable moment occurred during the filming of a kissing scene. Shahi revealed that she and Gandolfini became so immersed in the performance that they continued kissing even after the director called cut multiple times.
Widely regarded as one of television’s greatest actors, Gandolfini starred as Tony Soprano throughout the show’s acclaimed run from 1999 to 2007. He died in 2013 at the age of 51, but stories from former co-stars continue to highlight the generosity, humour and talent that made him such a beloved figure both on and off screen.
For Shahi, working alongside Gandolfini clearly remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of her career.