Vanessa Marcil (born Vanessa Ortiz on October 15, 1969 in Indio,
California) is an American actress. She is probably best known for her
role as Brenda Barrett on the soap opera General Hospital, a role she
started playing 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.
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.
Marcil made her feature film debut in the 1996 film The Rock, in which
she starred opposite Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery and Ed Harris. In
1999, she starred in two independent films: Nice Guys Sleep Alone with
Sean O'Bryan and This Space Between Us with Jeremy Sisto.
Marcil was awarded the 2001 "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 woman
to take control of their lives.
Marcil was rumored to be married to actor Corey Feldman in 1989. She
was engaged to General Hospital co-star Tyler Christopher, but the two
never married. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with
her son Kassius, whose father is former 90210 co-star Brian Austin
Green.
Marcil currently stars in the television series Las Vegas.