Vanessa Marcil
Encyclopedia
Vanessa Marcil is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Brenda Barrett Corinthos
on General Hospital
, Gina Kincaid on Beverly Hills, 90210
and Sam Marquez on Las Vegas
.
Since mid-2010, she goes by the name Vanessa Marcil-Giovinazzo.
, California, the daughter of Patricia Marcil, an herbalist
, and Peter Ortiz, a contractor and self-made millionaire. Her parents are separated. Marcil's father is Mexican
and her mother is an American of French, Italian and Portuguese
ancestry.
on the soap opera General Hospital
in 1992. She garnered three Daytime Emmy Award
nominations (1997, 1998 and 2003) for her portrayal, winning in 2003 as Outstanding Supporting Actress
. In February 1998, she was named Outstanding Lead Actress at the Soap Opera Digest Awards
.
In 1994, she was cast in the Prince
music video, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", and made People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful list the next year. She made her feature film debut in the 1996 film The Rock
, in which she appeared opposite Nicolas Cage
, Sean Connery
and Ed Harris
.
After six years on General Hospital
, she left the show in 1998, to star in the made-for-television movie To Love, Honor and Deceive, and had a recurring guest role on the police drama High Incident
produced by Steven Spielberg
. Marcil joined the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210
in November 1998 as Gina Kincaid and remained with the show for one-and-a-half seasons. In 1999, she starred in two independent films: Nice Guys Sleep Alone with Sean O'Bryan
and This Space Between Us with Jeremy Sisto
.
She returned briefly to General Hospital in 2000 and from 2002 to 2003, as Brenda Barrett, in a recurring role.
In 2001, Marcil was awarded the Sojourn Service Award and has supported Sojourn Services for Battered Women and their children by hosting charity events and making appearances on Wheel of Fortune, playing for funds for the organization. Through her fundraising efforts, she hopes to increase awareness of domestic violence and inspire battered women to take control of their lives.
Marcil formerly starred in the NBC
television series Las Vegas
as Samantha Jane "Sam" Marquez. She has been featured in several Men's magazines, including Stuff
, FHM
, and Maxim
. She was named #19 on Maxims Hot 100 of 2005 list and was featured on the cover of the issue that included the list, as well as #92 in the 2006 FHM Hot 100 list.
In fall of 2008, Marcil guest starred on Lipstick Jungle
, playing Shane's new talent manager. As of November 2008, she hosts and is the head judge of Lifetime's
reality television show, Blush: The Search For the Next Great Makeup Artist
.
On August 11, 2010, she returned to the role of Brenda Barrett on General Hospital, in a full-time contract role.
She dated Nathan Fillion
from 1995 to early 1997. She dated former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmate Brian Austin Green
from 1999 until early 2003. They have one son together, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green, born on March 30, 2002.
Marcil married CSI: NY actor Carmine Giovinazzo
on July 11, 2010. They currently reside in Weehawken, New Jersey. On June 21, 2011, Marcil-Giovinazzo announced she was expecting her second child, her first with Giovinazzo.
Brenda Barrett
Brenda Veronica Barrett is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital. The role was originated by Vanessa Marcil on September 18, 1992. After a six-year run with the show, the character of Brenda was believed to have died after her mentally ill mother drove their car...
on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, Gina Kincaid on Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
and Sam Marquez on Las Vegas
Las Vegas (TV series)
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
.
Since mid-2010, she goes by the name Vanessa Marcil-Giovinazzo.
Early life
Marcil, the youngest of four children, was born in IndioIndio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
, California, the daughter of Patricia Marcil, an herbalist
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
, and Peter Ortiz, a contractor and self-made millionaire. Her parents are separated. Marcil's father is Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
and her mother is an American of French, Italian and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
ancestry.
Career
Marcil acted in a number of theatre productions before landing the role of Brenda BarrettBrenda Barrett
Brenda Veronica Barrett is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital. The role was originated by Vanessa Marcil on September 18, 1992. After a six-year run with the show, the character of Brenda was believed to have died after her mentally ill mother drove their car...
on the soap opera General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
in 1992. She garnered three Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
nominations (1997, 1998 and 2003) for her portrayal, winning in 2003 as Outstanding Supporting Actress
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys since the 6th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in 1979....
. In February 1998, she was named Outstanding Lead Actress at the Soap Opera Digest Awards
Soap Opera Digest Awards
The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...
.
In 1994, she was cast in the Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
music video, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", and made People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful list the next year. She made her feature film debut in the 1996 film The Rock
The Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
, in which she appeared opposite Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
, Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Ed Harris
Ed Harris
Edward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
.
After six years on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, she left the show in 1998, to star in the made-for-television movie To Love, Honor and Deceive, and had a recurring guest role on the police drama High Incident
High Incident
High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson...
produced by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
. Marcil joined the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
in November 1998 as Gina Kincaid and remained with the show for one-and-a-half seasons. In 1999, she starred in two independent films: Nice Guys Sleep Alone with Sean O'Bryan
Sean O'Bryan
Sean O'Bryan is an American film and television actor.-Career:O'Bryan has guest-starred on such television series as MacGyver, Cold Case, Quantum Leap, Murder, She Wrote, Chicago Hope, Roseanne, Six Feet Under, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Bones, and the middle. He...
and This Space Between Us with Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
.
She returned briefly to General Hospital in 2000 and from 2002 to 2003, as Brenda Barrett, in a recurring role.
In 2001, Marcil was awarded the Sojourn Service Award and has supported Sojourn Services for Battered Women and their children by hosting charity events and making appearances on Wheel of Fortune, playing for funds for the organization. Through her fundraising efforts, she hopes to increase awareness of domestic violence and inspire battered women to take control of their lives.
Marcil formerly starred in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series Las Vegas
Las Vegas (TV series)
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
as Samantha Jane "Sam" Marquez. She has been featured in several Men's magazines, including Stuff
Stuff (magazine)
Stuff is a men's magazine featuring reviews of consumer electronics, and other articles of interest to a predominantly male audience.- UK edition :...
, FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
, and Maxim
Maxim (magazine)
Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
. She was named #19 on Maxims Hot 100 of 2005 list and was featured on the cover of the issue that included the list, as well as #92 in the 2006 FHM Hot 100 list.
In fall of 2008, Marcil guest starred on Lipstick Jungle
Lipstick Jungle (TV series)
Lipstick Jungle is an American comedy-drama television series created by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler for NBC Universal Television Studio . The hour-long series was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, who also served as executive producer alongside...
, playing Shane's new talent manager. As of November 2008, she hosts and is the head judge of Lifetime's
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
reality television show, Blush: The Search For the Next Great Makeup Artist
Blush: The Search For the Next Great Makeup Artist
Blush: The Search For the Next Great Makeup Artist is an American reality television show on Lifetime Television. The show is hosted by actress Vanessa Marcil, best known for her Emmy award-winning role on General Hospital.-Synopsis:...
.
On August 11, 2010, she returned to the role of Brenda Barrett on General Hospital, in a full-time contract role.
Personal life
Contrary to a persistent urban legend, Marcil was never married to actor Corey Feldman. As highlighted in the June 2005 issue of Maxim magazine in the article "Viva Vanessa" (pg 148) Marcil is quoted as saying, "I never married Corey. He's just a kid I did drugs with when I was a teenager. If I had a gift for every time someone said I've been married..."She dated Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
from 1995 to early 1997. She dated former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmate Brian Austin Green
Brian Austin Green
Brian Austin Green is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990 to 2000. Green also starred in the sitcom Freddie and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Since 2009, he has appeared in a recurring...
from 1999 until early 2003. They have one son together, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green, born on March 30, 2002.
Marcil married CSI: NY actor Carmine Giovinazzo
Carmine Giovinazzo
Carmine Dominick Giovinazzo is an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Detective Danny Messer in CSI: NY.-Early life:Giovinazzo was born and raised on Staten Island, the son of Nancy and Dominick, who was a police officer. He comes from a family of policemen and has Italian,...
on July 11, 2010. They currently reside in Weehawken, New Jersey. On June 21, 2011, Marcil-Giovinazzo announced she was expecting her second child, her first with Giovinazzo.
Credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Carla Pestalozzi | ||
| 1997 | 976-WISH | Danielle | |
| 1999 | Nice Guys Sleep Alone | Erin | |
| 2000 | This Space Between Us | Maggie Harty | |
| 2002 | Storm Watch Storm Watch Storm Watch is a movie released in 2002, directed by Terry Cunningham and starring Adrian Paul and Bai Ling, the music was composed by Sean Murray. The movie centers on a protagonist who plays a virtual reality online game, which suddenly turns into a race against time to stop a weather satellite... |
Tess Woodward | Alternative titles: Virtual Storm Code Hunter |
| 2010 | Madison | Webseries |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
Brenda Barrett Corinthos Brenda Barrett Brenda Veronica Barrett is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital. The role was originated by Vanessa Marcil on September 18, 1992. After a six-year run with the show, the character of Brenda was believed to have died after her mentally ill mother drove their car... |
||
| 1996 | To Love, Honor and Deceive | Sydney Carpenter | TV movie, aka The Protected Wife |
| 1997 | High Incident High Incident High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson... |
Kerry Andrews | "Hot Wire" and "Remote Control" |
| 1998–2000 | Beverly Hills, 90210 Beverly Hills, 90210 Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise... |
Gina Kincaid | 37 episodes |
| 2001 | Spin City Spin City Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike... |
Crazy Kara | "A Shot in the Dark: Part 2" |
| 2001 2003 |
NYPD Blue NYPD Blue NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan... |
Detective Carmen Olivera | "Johnny Got His Gold" "Shear Stupidity" |
| 2003–2008 | Las Vegas Las Vegas (TV series) Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and... |
Sam Marquez | 106 episodes |
| 2004 2005 |
Crossing Jordan Crossing Jordan Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office... |
Sam Marquez | "What Happens in Vegas Dies in Boston" "Luck Be a Lady" |
| 2008 | Lipstick Jungle Lipstick Jungle (TV series) Lipstick Jungle is an American comedy-drama television series created by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler for NBC Universal Television Studio . The hour-long series was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, who also served as executive producer alongside... |
Josie Scotto | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Kate Hewitt | Hallmark channel movie | |
| 2009 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Kim Marcus | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | One Hot Summer | Margarita Silva Santos | Television movie |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Title of work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Soap Opera Digest Awards Soap Opera Digest Awards The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera... |
Nominated | Outstanding Female Newcomer | General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
| 1995 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Nominated | Hottest Soap Couple (shared with Maurice Benard Maurice Benard Maurice Benard is an American actor. He is known primarily for his portrayal of romantic mobster Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, a role he has portrayed since 1993.-Career:... ) |
General Hospital |
| 1997 | Daytime Emmy Award Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming... |
Nominated | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | General Hospital |
| 1997 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Won | Hottest Female Star | General Hospital |
| 1998 | Daytime Emmy Award | Nominated | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | General Hospital |
| 1998 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Won | Outstanding Lead Actress | General Hospital |
| 2003 | Daytime Emmy Award | Won | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | General Hospital |
| 2003 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Won | Favorite Return | General Hospital |