(Warning: This article contains spoilers from previous seasons of Sons of Anarchy)

Drea De Matteo has built a successful career in TV. Best known as Adriana in The Sopranos (which won her an Emmy in 2004), Gina in Friends spinoff Joey, and Angie in Desperate Housewives she can currently be seen in as Wendy, the recovering-addict ex-wife of Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) and mother of his oldest son in Sons of Anarchy. The acclaimed show about a motorcycle club wraps up with its final season this fall.

De Matteo was in Calgary at the Comic & Entertainment Expo in April and chatted with GayCalgary Magazine about Sons and her career. Whether loving her role in Sopranos or being a Sons addict, there was a lot of excitement generated in meeting her.

"I love seeing all the fans, especially when they have their kids with them," she said. "That is my favourite part. I end up playing with the kids. Then there are fans that are overly excited and so nervous and then I get nervous. I appreciate the fans so much. There are some big Sopranos and Sons fans."

Appearing in the first episode having overdosed, leading to an emergency C-section, the character of Wendy was not a likeable person. Fans rooted for Jax’s new girlfriend and future wife Tara (Maggie Siff) as the better mom to Jax’s kids. Wendy was gone for a few years, and when the character returned in 2011 it was a new, cleaned up Wendy. As the series continued to unfold it became clear that Wendy may be the better choice, away from the violence and lifestyle of the motorcycle club. It was a powerful role to portray, both physically and emotionally.

"When I first started shooting the show I had just had my first child. I didn’t understand what it meant to have a child myself. Now I have a six-year-old and a three-year-old and I can’t imagine ever losing my child. I don’t know what I would do. Wendy will go as far as she can to get her babies back, and I can totally relate to that. I don’t really need to prepare much to show up at work."

In the shocking finale of season 6 Tara was killed by Jax’s mother Gemma (Katy Sagal). With Jax out for revenge, what will it mean for his family, including Wendy?

"I haven’t watched past season 4. I had just started watching the first four seasons and become obsessed with the show. So I called Kurt (Sutter, creator) and said I want to come back on the show! So I came back but I haven’t watched since I came back on. She is going to have a battle with her morals and who she is going to side with to get her kids."

There is a sense that the camaraderie among the characters is real in the actors portraying them.

"I think when these guys get on these shows like Sopranos and Sons they sort of become those characters to a certain degree – which is pretty funny. I don’t get to work with the guys that much. It is usually just me and Gemma or Tara. Tara is gone, and she is who I worked with the most, so I will really miss her. So I guess I will have more scenes with Chief Unser."

Working with Katy Segal, an iconic actress who portrayed Peg Bundy in Married With Children as well as voiced Leela on Futurama is another treat for De Matteo.

"I love her. We have the same birthday. She is a broad – a real woman – and I love working with her. They are great scenes ‘cause she is always threatening me."

Having been part of two shows that are very violent means having to say goodbye to co-workers when their characters are killed off. De Matteo’s character was killed in The Sopranos and the body count is high in Sons of Anarchy – a trend that promises to continue into the final season.

"It is always sad, but if it is a great show and makes sense, and causes a dramatic moment on the show, it is worthwhile. Including my own death."

With SOA a wrap, De Matteo continues to work on other projects, including a Web series for Endomol Beyond that she was filming at the Expo that is slated to air this year on YouTube.

"People will say I am selling out but, at this old age, I am buying in. I have to take care of my family. It will probably be called The Muthaship."