Interview with Ingo Rademacher regarding Vanessa
SON: Do you and Vanessa Marcil (Brenda) get along well in real life??
IR: Vanessa is my favorite person to work with. We talk about how we are going to play each scene before we go on. Then, of course, it turns out totally different once we get out there. We like to run scenes and get the feel of how we’re going to play it. We know each other so well, it’s like we’re living in the characters. It’s quite scary.
Soap Opera News May 13, 1997 (thank you to Melissa for this)

Vanessa Marcil on her life and Rena's...
SOD asks Vanessa Marcil: What are you working on [to improve yourself] now?
MARCIL: I'm too sensitive about things. Like in Soap Opera Digest, Linda Dano [Felicia, ANOTHER WORLD] said she didn't like my dress [at the Digest awards]. Most actors read that stuff and just laugh. But I was like, 'I can't believe she didn't like my dress!' and then, 'C'mon, Vanessa. Who cares?' I've learned that sometimes, instead of showing that I'm scared or hurt, I'll get mean. Or quiet. Rena [Sofer, ex-Lois] has been really helpful. She always explains to me what my reality is, because I get confused. If I hear three different people in one day say 'Isn't Vanessa looking a little fat?' then my reality will be that I'm fat. Rena will sit me down and tell me, 'This is who you are.' Rena's only like two years older than me and I get really pissed off: 'How come she's so together?' She's married and has a baby.
SOD May 20, 1997 (thanks Melissa for this)

Hall of Famer
In the grand scheme of ex-GHer's, Rena Sofer (Lois) is sorely missed. Her loyalty to her costars remains unmatched, as evidenced by a recent phone call to this magazine with some choice words for DIGEST fashion columnist Linda Dano (Felicia, Another World). Dano gave a thumbs down to the dress worn by Vanessa Marcil(Brenda) at the Emmys. "Leave Vanessa alone," is the most printable instruction that Sofer offered...
SOD May 20, 1997 (thank you Melissa for this)

FINALLY! Brenda Confronts Sonny!
Sonny's shocking return to Port Charles this week comes just as Brenda & Jax's relationship reaches a stunning climax.
According to headwriter Bob Guza, the former lovers' first encounter will pack a powerful punch. "When Brenda & Sonny finally connect, I guarantee, it will melt your TV screen," he says. "He's going to meet up with her in a big way."
Ironically, Sonny's arrival coincides with 2 major romantic developments: one involving Brenda & Jax; the other, Robin & Jason. Both events will have dramatic fallout.
For months, Brenda has been trying to entice her ex-husband, Jax, back into a relationship - & even proposed to him. But while stranded with Jason, she comes close to learning that Sonny left her at the altar out of love. "Jason opened a window for Brenda & Sonny," says Guza. "The purpose of putting Jason & Brenda together was to have her deal with Jason's complicity in having Sonny leave her."
Now that Brenda is about to come face-to-face with the guy who broke her heart for her own good, she will be forced once & for all to make a choice, Guza explains. "Brenda has one final hurdle to get over in terms of being able to commit herself to Jax. She says she loves him, but she's got to get beyond Sonny. We're bringing him back with the express purpose of dramatizing that." SID 5/19/98

Fans of Vanessa Marcil gathered at the Holiday Inn Select in Beverly Hills for The Vanessa Connection, a benefit for Sojourn Services for Battered Women & Their Children
Seated in front of fans, Marcil explained her devotion to this cause, "I, & a lot of people I know, were victims of domestic violence while growing up, so it's very close to home for me. I believe it's very important, even if parents don't have the courage to leave a bad situation like that, that they do it for their children. I know that it affected me in a lot of ways & still affects me every day of my life. That's why I believe so much in this specific charity." SOD 8/11/98

Thanks for the memories: At the recent fan club luncheon held in L.A., the soon-to-be-departing Vanessa Marcil shared her feelings about leaving the show. "In my spare time, I cry over the fact that I'm leaving," she confessed. "I only have a few weeks left." When asked how her character would leave the show, Marcil simply shrugged, "I really don't know. Actually, I've been in denial over the fact that I'm leaving, so I haven't gone upstairs to ask Wendy [Riche, Executive Producer] what the storyline is going to be. But I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you to [the fans] for all your love & support over the almost-six years of my life. I'll miss the show & all of you guys a lot. And," she concluded with a smile, "I hope that if I can't stand to be away, you guys will take me back!" The crowd, of course, responded with a big round of applause. SOD 8/11/98