"Always believe in yourself!"

The Sopranos and Goodfellas actress, author and former model Lorraine Bracco wears many hats. But her role of a lifetime—and the toughest to play—was being a single mom to her daughters. Now, Lorraine looks back on her ups and downs for the blessings they've been. Here, she shares how she found peace and joy!

- By Bonnie Siegler

Sitting at her home outside of New York City, Lorraine Bracco is filled with gratitude. “I'm thrilled to be alive!” she shares with Woman's World. “I'm thrilled that I can grow tomatoes, that I can pick up the phone and call my kids and grandkids...that we're all healthy and that I can really be me.”

For the 70-year-old actress and author, that's not something she takes lightly. “I'm an explosive girl, loud, full of life—that's me in a nutshell. And I've been through a lot of things in my life,” says Lorraine, who raised two daughters on her own and has learned to see silver linings in the toughest times. “That's really what life is all about. I ama firm believer that everything will always work out in the end.”

Here, Lorraine shares her secrets to greeting each day with joy, laughter and curiosity.

From left: Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Vince Vaughn, Brenda Vaccaro and Lorraine in Nonnas

Don’t miss Lorraine’s new movie!

In her new movie