
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Soap fans are just a few weeks away from seeing one of their all-time most popular characters return, when Brenda Barrett steps back into Port Charles, and Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo returns to General Hospital. In a new interview out today with TV Guide Magazine’s, Michael Logan, Vanessa clues fans in as to why the time was right for her return.
In addition in one excerpt below, Logan points out that Marcil Giovinazzo’s return had been in talks for years and promises of her return always seemed imminent but never materialized, such that, it could have appeared as if the actress was yanking the shows and the public’s chain.
Marcil Giovinazzo set the record straight by saying ; “We came close to a deal a few times before this. Very close. It was always a matter of when, not if — and I said that in every conversation I had with Bob Guza. But, for me, there could never be a return where Brenda wasn’t incredibly involved with the characters who are basically her family. She doesn’t have any blood family. She has no parents. I’d tell Bob, “You know my list — Sonny, Jason, Robin, Jax. These are the characters I want to work with every day. If you can promise me that’s going to happen, we can work this out.” He called me one time and said, “Listen, James Franco’s coming on the show and we’d love for you to walk in with him.” But I didn’t want to do that. He’s a great movie star and an incredible actor and it’s an honor to have him on GH. But what does he have to do with Brenda? It was important that Brenda’s return be about her people, her family.”
Marcil Giovinazzo on why also the time was right to return; “Because it feels so right. A lot’s been going on. We found out that my older sister, Sherry, has breast cancer. We’ve bought a farm in upstate New York and she and I went up there to spend a week together before she had to start her chemo, and it got me thinking about how grateful I am to GH for giving me pretty much everything I have. [Head writer] Bob Guza and I got back in touch again during that time. I told him I wanted to settle down for a while so that I could be available to my sister and my family, and that maybe during that time I could come in and out at GH for a couple of days a week. I called [ABC Daytime chief] Brian Frons and asked him if he would have me back, and he was gracious enough to say yes. I just couldn’t feel any more grateful that I’m still allowed to visit such a great place. I love that Julianne Moore went back to As the World Turns to honor where she came from. It’s important to do that. I left GH for a few different reasons, but it was never because I wasn’t madly in love with the show and the character and with daytime.”
One small correction: Brenda does have “blood family”. She has a sister, Julia. Otherwise, YAY! I’m glad to have her back.
I believe they were referring to Brenda not having any blood family in PC, Julia came back only becuase Jax sought her out and she was only on the show for a couple months…Brenda is pretty much byherslef in PC, a lot like how Sam McCall was before finding out that Alexis was her biological mother who gave her up for adoption, now Sam has two sisters, a Mom, and a Greek Prince as a cousin…who woulda thunk…LOL…anyways, have to say that I am ubber excited to see Brenda Barrett return to our beloved GH, I am a Bren/Sonny fan… Read more »