'Days' not hot enough for Sorel

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."