James Gandolfini is to appear on the front cover of this coming month's Vanity Fair in a photo shoot conducted by renowned portraitist, Annie Leibovitz.

According to the Daily Mail, the Sopranos star will feature, in the role of his character Tony Soprano, with actress Drea de Matteo.

De Matteo played Adriana La Cerva, who was killed off at end of the previous series of the hit US show.

The April issue of Vanity Fair is released this Friday.