As Carmela and Jackie, she grabbed our hearts. Now, meet Edie at home.

We’re all big fans at Working Mother. What’s coming up for you this summer?
My movie, Gods Behaving Badly, is coming out. I play Artemis, a muse who loves animals. And i’m still having a blast at Showtime playing Nurse Jackie. I’m lucky to have the kind of job where I get chunks of time off. So I plan on spending the summer reading, sleeping and going to the beach—in that order. But with two small kids, I know it won’t really be like that. At least I have a goal.

What’s it like being a mom in New York City?
Originally, I was intimidated by the concept. After all, I grew up in the
laid-back suburbs of Long Island. I think being a New York City mom can be scary, because there’s a lot of micromanaging and helicopter parenting, and I’m not like that at all. It took me a while to realize I could parent Anderson [age 7] and Macy [age 3] my own way, and, happily, my kids are thriving.

In March, you donated your kitchen to the nonprofit Green Demolitions. How did that come about?
I bought our apartment recently, and for once, I decided to decorate it to my taste. So I gave the old kitchen to Green Demolitions. They remove all the cabinets and appliances and then resell them, with part of the proceeds going to charity—in my case, the Dawn Animals Agency. Everybody wins: nothing ends up in a landfill, someone gets to buy a new kitchen for considerably less money, and my charity receives funds. So I have a beautiful new kitchen…and a clear conscience!

What’s your work life equation?

My work is a huge part of who I am. It’s how I experience the world, and it’s what makes me feel fulfilled. As a single mom, I’m juggling a lot and working long hours. Yes, it costs them a little, but what my children get in return is a mother who is energized and content. It helps us to bring out the best in each other, which is what a family should do.

I’ve heard that you’re a huge animal lover.
My dog Marley is a 13-year-old lab-shepherd mix. She’s truly the original love of my life. And I have a new dog, Sammy, a Brussels Griffon rescued from a puppy mill. She’s a very strange-looking little dog. when I adopted her, I didn’t realize she was pregnant. I soon had a litter of puppies at home.

What did you do with the puppies?
Although I’m sure my children would have been thrilled to keep them all, we decided to give them away to family and friends. I explained that the puppies needed new homes, and since my children were adopted, I thought this was a perfect teachable moment to show them what adoption is about.

EDIE ON PARENTING, YOUR WAY

Keep it simple.
I once went to a baby store and almost had a coronary at the massive selection! All you need is love … and maybe a crib.

Share music.
I have finally learned how to reclaim the radio from my kids. Now, we all love listening to Joni Mitchell and Prince.

Go with your gut.
No two families care for their kids the same way. Listen to your own voice and do what feels right for you, even if it goes against the norm.

Share work.
Bring your kids with you so they learn what “work” is. My kids often join me on set. My daughter loves to yell “Action!”