Former Blue Bloods actress Jennifer Esposito has revealed that she turned down the opportunity to appear in The Sopranos multiple times. Esposito admitted that the portrayal of Italian culture and the character of Meadow on the show reminded her too much of her own experiences growing up and brought back painful memories. While Esposito acknowledges that turning down The Sopranos was a mistake, she also points out that the show has faced criticism for perpetuating stereotypes of Italian Americans.