Monday, August 18, 1997
TV:
Despite popularity, character of Vivian still has room for
progressBy Stephanie Sheh
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
For six years now, Louise Sorel has played one of the most
outrageous women on daytime television: "Days of our Lives’ "
Vivian Alamain. She has done practically everything and anything
that lies within the depths of a wacky soap writer’s mind. Yet,
there is still room for growth.
"I think (Vivian) has such potential to expand in terms of her
business acumen and in terms of some kind of existence of a love
life," Sorel says. "I seem to be sexless on the show and I think
that it would be nice to have (a romance) in a mature way and in a
fun kind of charming way."
Sorel does not think that any of the current characters on the
show are suitable matches for Vivian. For a little while "Days"
toyed with the idea of pairing Vivian with her sidekick Ivan, but
that notion has long past.
Similarly, "Days" has also only played with the idea of Vivian
as a businesswoman. But Sorel always thought that her character
should be involved in business.
"I get caught up in business for 20 minutes and then they take
it away from me," Sorel complains. "I was much more active. I’ve
become reactive, and I think that’s a problem."
All of Vivian Alamain’s outrageous stunts are the writers’
maneuvering. Sorel does not have much say in the script, although
that does not keep the actress from voicing her opinions.
"You’re in a tough spot because you may feel a certain way, but
they’ve employed you to do what they’ve written," Sorel explains.
"There are times when I have said this just seems ridiculous to me
or out of line or I wouldn’t do this."
Despite her character’s ridiculous antics or devious
machinations, Sorel has not received any hate mail .
"I’ve never had a negative response even when I was doing
ghastly things," Sorel says. "It’s very interesting to not have
negative responses. They’ve always been quite enchanted with
whatever is going on and I have a feeling that part of it has to do
with the humor that I have."
Sorel says that she only has one thing in common with her
character: Vivian’s humor. Though Vivian is pretentious, she also
has a sense of humor about herself, which prevents her from being
absolutely unbearable.
Sorel is indeed bearable, as evident by "Days’ " strong
following. Yet, Sorel does not watch the show.
"If you’re at the studio, you’re working," Sorel explains. "If
you’re at home you try to do the things that you couldn’t do ’cause
you were working.
"When I started ‘Santa Barbara’ I had never seen a soap opera,"
Sorel confesses. "I didn’t go to work thinking ‘I’m doing a soap
opera.’ I go to work to act. That phrase bothers me because it
seems to have some kind of bad connotation."
Recently, she starred in a play in Santa Monica called "Lovely,"
in which she played a fat Englishwoman. Sorel, whose acting
background is in theater, eventually left the show because she
needed to have some free time for herself.
In her spare moments, the actress loves to travel. In addition
to her Los Angeles home, she also has residences in New York City,
Amagansett on Long Island and Paris. Sorel has a special
relationship with New York though.
"The first time I saw New York I was alone. I didn’t know a
soul. I took the train in from Philadelphia and was in absolute
wonderland. It has never changed for me. When I see the Manhattan
skyline it’s like, ‘I’m home.’ It just thrills me."
Most of the time though, Sorel lives quietly in her cozy home
near UCLA, which she also has a special affinity for. Her younger
sister is an alum and ex-theater department head who gave Sorel her
scholarship at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. In addition,
Sorel attends many of the events on campus, such as the Special
Olympics.
"I love being near the campus," Sorel says. "I wish I could go
back to college. I really do. I love walking around there. The
process of learning and the energy is so healthy."
TELEVISION: "Days of our Lives" is on channel four at noon.
NBC
Louise Sorel plays Vivian Alamain on "Days of our Lives."
Related Links
Links to Really Cool Days pages
Days of Our Lives