Gandolfini relishes funny role

Former Sopranos star James Gandolfini is relishing his new role in Broadway play God Of Carnage - because he gets the chance to "make people laugh".

Gandolfini is most famous for his Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of brutal mob boss Tony Soprano in the long running TV drama series.

And he admits he leaped at the chance to take on a lighter role in the New York stage comedy about about two warring couples.

The play, which co-stars Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden, opened on Sunday (22Mar09) to rave reviews.

And the heavyweight actor is having a great time.

He tells the New York Daily News, "I'm making people laugh now. And that's a good thing."

Gandolfini admits he suffered stagefright during rehearsals and still makes the occasional slip-up, adding, "I still f**k up now and again, but that's life. I don't get nervous now. It's starting to become fun...

"Once you get the hang of it, you're fine."

The 47-year-old's run in God of Carnage marks his first stint on Broadway since a 1992 production of On The Waterfront.

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