‘The Mob’ Exit Interview: Aida Turturro on Bringing Aida, Not Janice Soprano, to the Game

For audiences who know Aida Turturro as the formidable Janice Soprano, The Mob appeared to be a game tailor-made for her. But rather than channeling her iconic character’s ruthless streak, the acclaimed actress entered the family as herself: warm, honest, and far more interested in building genuine relationships than manipulating anyone on her way to the top.

That sincerity quickly made Aida one of the most trusted and beloved members of the cast. While others plotted their path to becoming the Don, she embraced the camaraderie of the experience, formed meaningful connections across the house, and approached every job as a team player. Her social capital may have positioned her as a natural leader, but it also made her increasingly dangerous to anyone hoping to retain control of the family.

Pop Culturalist chatted with Aida Turturro about stepping into the unfamiliar world of reality television, why her fellow competitors expected Janice but got Aida, and the friendships that defined her experience. She also discussed being too “mushy” to whack anyone, the job she enjoyed most, and why she would not change how she played the game.

PC: You’re an absolute legend. As an actress, I imagine every project and every character you bring to life leaves you with something. What did you hope to get out of The Mob, and how did that compare to what you ultimately took away?
Aida: I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into, and I learned a lot. Reality TV is such a different experience because you’re not playing a character, and I wasn’t quite prepared for that.

I really enjoyed the camaraderie. I was fine with the challenges, but I don’t think I was particularly good at playing the game. Manipulating people to win wasn’t really up my alley. I wanted to be everyone’s friend.

Debi [Mazar] and I were the only actors, and everyone else had done reality TV before. I have so much respect for all of them. They were lovely, and the crew was great.

PC: You’re not giving yourself enough credit. Your fellow competitors loved you, and so did the fans. After watching you play Janice on The Sopranos, I can’t imagine The Mob without you. Did any of Janice’s instincts rub off on you in the game? How do you think she would’ve fared with this family?
Aida: I think that was the difference! People saw me and thought they were getting Janice. In real life, I’m a sweet person, unless you get me mad. [laughs] They got Aida. I did my best to be a team player and get to know everybody. I didn’t want to be the Don because I didn’t want to whack anyone. I’m too mushy for that. [laughs]

PC: It was clear how much trust you’d built within the family. So many people were rooting for you to become the Don because they trusted you. Who did you feel closest to, and did you realize how much social capital those relationships gave you in the game?
Aida: Wow, that’s very kind. That makes me feel good because I really put my heart out there. I’m honest to a fault, which was probably my problem! I was too honest. But I really grew to love everybody as we got to know each other.

I’d ask Debi to help me with my makeup because she’s always dressed to the nines and she’s so cool. I fell in love with Bruno [Tonioli]. He’s wonderful and has such great energy. I called everyone my kids because that’s how I saw them. Romeo [Miller] and Maria [Georgas] were so sweet, and Harry [Jowsey] gave me a gold chain. I loved being around them. They were all so kind.

The challenges were a lot of fun, too. They could be tough when you didn’t have what you needed to get the job done. [laughs] But you still wanted to do your best. Everyone was working their butts off.

PC: There were some hysterical moments in that Episode 3 job. What was it like in the middle of all that, and which job ended up being your favorite?
Aida: That was a tough one because we needed Romeo to tell us what to do, but he couldn’t be in two places at once. I was like, “We’ve got to do this!”

I really liked the wine challenge. It was crazy and hard, but everyone was working together. We each had a job to do.

PC: The family wanted to see a woman become the Don, and you were their top choice. Word eventually got back to Joe. If you’d had the chance to become the Don, what would you have done differently?
Aida: I don’t think I would’ve done anything differently. I still don’t know why Joe whacked me. I was honest, I worked hard, and I stayed loyal. I wanted to play a fair game. I’m not mad about it. I was just sad to leave everybody. It was pretty emotional.

PC: I think he whacked you because everyone loved you!

Make sure to follow Aida on Instagram. Stream The Mob on Hulu today.

Photo Credit: Disney/Andrea Miconi