Marianne Leone is a writer, actress, and screenwriter. Her essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Lithub, Ploughshares, Post Road, Bark Magazine, Coastal Living, Solstice, and others. She is the author of three memoirs, Jesse (Simon & Schuster, 2010), Ma Speaks Up (Beacon Press 2017) and Five Dog Epiphany ( Akashic 2024). She had a recurring role on HBO's “The Sopranos" for four seasons as Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher's mother. She has also appeared in films by David O. Russell, Larry David, John Sayles, Nancy Savoca and Martin Scorsese. JESSE is published in Italy by Nutrimenti. Her coming of age novel, Christina the Astonishing, was published by Akashic Books in September 2025.
