Marcil was born to Peter (of Mexican descent) and Patricia (of French, Italian and Portuguese descent), and has three siblings. She was named after actress Vanessa Redgrave.
She grew up in poverty and her father was an alcoholic and abusive. Marcil herself had problems with alcohol and drugs while she was a teen and went to juvenile hall after being arrested several times. She dropped out of high school briefly, but eventually graduated and moved to Newport Beach, California to live on her own. She struggled financially before deciding to become an actor and taking acting school.
Marcil acted in a number of theatre productions before landing the role of Brenda Barrett 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.
After six years on General Hospital, she left the show in 1998 (returning briefly in '03) 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 latest T.V work was in the television series Las Vegas. She's been featured in several Men's magazines, including Stuff, FHM, and Maxim. She was named #19 on Maxim's Hot 100 of 2005 list and was featured on the cover of the issue.
Marcil was rumored to have married actor Corey Feldman in 1989, but she has denied this in interviews. She was engaged to General Hospital co-star Tyler Christopher, but the two never married. She dated former Beverly Hills 90210 castmate Brian Austin Green until early 2003 (they were widely reported to have been engaged, but Marcil denied this in an interview with Stuff magazine).
They have a son, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green, born on March 30, 2002. She currently lives with her son in Los Angeles.
She grew up in poverty and her father was an alcoholic and abusive. Marcil herself had problems with alcohol and drugs while she was a teen and went to juvenile hall after being arrested several times. She dropped out of high school briefly, but eventually graduated and moved to Newport Beach, California to live on her own. She struggled financially before deciding to become an actor and taking acting school.
Marcil acted in a number of theatre productions before landing the role of Brenda Barrett 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.
After six years on General Hospital, she left the show in 1998 (returning briefly in '03) 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 latest T.V work was in the television series Las Vegas. She's been featured in several Men's magazines, including Stuff, FHM, and Maxim. She was named #19 on Maxim's Hot 100 of 2005 list and was featured on the cover of the issue.
Marcil was rumored to have married actor Corey Feldman in 1989, but she has denied this in interviews. She was engaged to General Hospital co-star Tyler Christopher, but the two never married. She dated former Beverly Hills 90210 castmate Brian Austin Green until early 2003 (they were widely reported to have been engaged, but Marcil denied this in an interview with Stuff magazine).
They have a son, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green, born on March 30, 2002. She currently lives with her son in Los Angeles.
Vanessa was ranked #55 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World of 2007.
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She attended Indio High School.
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She has two dogs named Woof and Joey.
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She started acting at the age of eight.
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She performed her own song at a 6th grade talent show and won.
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She attended College of the Desert, Palm Desert, California and studied law.
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She has starred in several plays such as:
Simon's "Fools" "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" "Pygmalion" "The Miracle Worker" "Sweet Bird of Youth"
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In her family, her father Peter is a contractor; her mother Patricia is a herbalist; she also has two older sisters, Tina and Sherry; and an older brother named Sam.
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She has designed a line of children's clothing called, 'Kass' (named in honor of her son Kassius) for Africa. A portion of the proceeds will go to help build schools and open centers to support and empower mothers and their children in Africa.
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Vanessa is the youngest of four children. All of her family remains living in Indio, California.
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Vanessa auditioned for a role in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). She lost the part to Jennifer Esposito.
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Vanessa met Brian Austin Green on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210.
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Vanessa opened Patricia House in Los Angeles, which will aid women who can no longer care for their children. She also created a hotline for these women to have their babies placed in good homes.
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She remarked on "Today" (1952), 5 November 2004 that she is the great granddaughter of French mime Marcel Marceau, though she never met him.
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She was named #19 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.
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Vanessa has a grandmother named Sally.
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Her eyes color is brown.
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Vanessa has previously been engaged to actors Nathan Fillian (One Life to Live, Two Guys and a Girl) and Tyler Christopher (General Hospital).
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She was offered the role of Nelle Porter on Ally McBeal but was forced to turn it down because she had already signed on to Beverly Hills, 90210
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As of 2006, she currently lives with her son in Los Angeles.
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In Indio, she was part of the Circle Theatre Acting Company.
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She is 5'4" (1.63 m).
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Vanessa has suffered from agoraphobia (fear of open or public places).
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Vanessa is a vegetarian.
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Vanessa was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People [1995].
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She has a tattoo on her lower back of a tribal symbol representing peace and love in the universe.
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Vanessa was offered the cover and a layout in Playboy but she declined. She is reportedly very shy about revealing her body.
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As a child, she was given the option of skipping second grade along with a friend. She and her parents decided against it.
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Marcil refused to do a nude scene with Nicholas Cage in the action flick "The Rock."
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Vanessa won the 2003 Daytime Emmy award for best supporting actress for her work on General Hospital.
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Vanessa Marcil: I balance things better and don't kill myself so much, but conflict makes me a more interesting actress to watch. The places I go to to pull emotions from, I think if you have a perfect, happy life, you just don't have those places. And I want those places. I'm proud of those places.
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Vanessa Marcil: I love Vegas- Its like going to Disneyland
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Vanessa Marcil: What makes a woman beautiful is her loyalty to and her friendships with other women, and her honesty with men.
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Vanessa Marcil: I don’t get this whole super-skinny obsession. I really think women look more beautiful when they let their curves show
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Vanessa Marcil: My family didn’t have any money growing up. I’m just a girl from the ghetto; from Indio, California.
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(Speaking of General Hospital)
Vanessa Marcil: I don't know any woman who doesn't have an anxiety attack about wearing a bathing suit. I was on the show for two years before they got me to wear a bathing suit and I almost had a heart attack the whole time. (edit) Vanessa: Acting probably saved my life. It gave me a home and a safe place to let out all of my emotions and have it be okay. (edit) Vanessa: Because of my crazy work schedule, I have become something of a master at changing my clothes while driving. The men driving next to me love it (edit)
Vanessa Marcil: I don't know any woman who doesn't have an anxiety attack about wearing a bathing suit. I was on the show for two years before they got me to wear a bathing suit and I almost had a heart attack the whole time. (edit) Vanessa: Acting probably saved my life. It gave me a home and a safe place to let out all of my emotions and have it be okay. (edit) Vanessa: Because of my crazy work schedule, I have become something of a master at changing my clothes while driving. The men driving next to me love it (edit)
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Score: 9.4 Superb 253 votes
Score: 9.4 Superb 253 votes
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