'Sopranos' co-stars salute Marchand

Sopranos" creator David Chase says the chemistry between Marchand, left, and James Gandolfini, right, was magic

From Jodi Ross
CNN Entertainment Correspondent

New York (CNN) -- Actress Nancy Marchand passed away almost a month before receiving her second Emmy nomination for her role as "The Sopranos" matriarch, Livia. The 71-year-old actress died in June, following a battle with emphysema and lung cancer.

Those who worked with her on the HBO drama her say she's the most deserving nominee in the category of outstanding supporting actress. The other contenders include Stockard Channing, "The West Wing" (NBC); Tyne Daly, "Judging Amy" (CBS); Allison Janney, "The West Wing" (NBC); and Holland Taylor, "The Practice" (ABC).

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"I think she has a chance this year," says "Sopranos" creator David Chase. "She had a chance last year, but I think she really has a chance this year, and it's just too bad she couldn't be here to see it."

Co-star Lorraine Bracco, who received her second nomination as outstanding lead actress for her role as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, agrees.

"I personally believe she should have taken home the Emmy last year," she says. "I thought her work was as good as it gets, anywhere in the world."

Post-Marchand plans

Marchand said she loved the work. Last year, she told an audience of fans that Livia Soprano was a role she couldn't refuse.

"I spent what I thought was my whole career playing tasteful ladies," Marchand said, "but when I saw this script, I thought, 'holy smoke! This is really good.'"

Marchand started her acting career more 40 years ago. She gained fame and four Emmys playing the sophisticated newspaper publisher Margaret Pynchon on the TV series "Lou Grant" in the late '70s and early '80s.

Marchand played sophisticated newspaper publisher Margaret Pynchon on the TV series "Lou Grant"

On "The Sopranos," her character was supposed to be killed off in the first season, but Chase recognized her chemistry with James Gandolfini was magic. He reworked the part, and now he is doing that again.

"We've got some ideas," Chase says, "and we think we have a way. But it's never going to be the same, and it's not like we're going to be able to fill this hole. We just have to kind of accept the fact that there is a hole and go around it."

Cast and crew feel Marchand can't be replaced, but a win on Emmy night might make the loss a little easier.

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