Virginia Harrison
Encyclopedia
Virginia Harrison is a fictional character
from the US NBC
soap opera
Sunset Beach
, played by Dominique Jennings
. Virginia is characterised as a "bad girl" and has been central to a controversial storyline in which she impregnates a fellow female character without their consent.
While the character is portrayed as "the bitch of the beach", Jennings said that Virginia has "depth and edge" to her. She described her as single mother from South Central L.A., who is "trying to make a better life for her son" but making Vanessa and Michael's lives miserable in the process. She opined that Virginia's interest and appeal came through the fact she started out as a completely different character. Jennings also said that there was no other black female portraying such a villainess on daytime television during the nineties.She also had so much fun playing Virginia that she had to remind herself to "snap out" of character.
Virginia is subject to a storyline in which she drugs and impregnates love rival Vanessa Hart
(Sherri Saum
) with Tyus Robinson's (Russell Curry
) sperm, using a turkey baster. In doing so Virginia hopes to win the heart of fellow character, Michael Bourne
(Jason Winston George
). The storyline proved unpopular with some viewers. In another part of the storyline Virginia dresses up has her alter-ego "Nurse Jones" in an attempt to fool and run Vanessa's stay in hospital. Jennings was required to wear a padded fat suit and a "whacked-out" wig. Jennings said "It's really old and itchy, and it's hard to tell I have it on with the nurse's uniform, because the costume is so boxy. It's not so much heavy as it is hot. And the wig is just kind of out there."
, and she relies on the help of Michael, the man that accidentally shot her husband in a gang war
. When she learns of Michael developing a relationship with a reporter named Vanessa, she decides to fight for what she claims as hers, and she infiltrates Michael's life in order to get of her. Claiming that her neighborhood isn't safe because of constant robberies, Virginia gets Michael to give her a place to stay at Surf Central, a house where Michael lives with a number of his other friends. Virginia doesn't hide her feelings for Michael in front of Vanessa and she makes it clear that she wants Vanessa gone. When Michael explains that he sees Virginia only as a friend, Virginia refuses to back down and only becomes more keen on breaking up Michael and Vanessa. She follows Michael and Vanessa one day to the cabin where they arranged a private evening, and sets the cabin on fire in order to prevent them from making love.
After successfully covering her tracks, Virginia goes on a private New Year's Eve celebration with Michael, Vanessa and the rest of the Surf Central gang, where her life is put at a risk when a serial killer is on the loose. Virginia gets a chance to get rid of Vanessa, but instead decides to help her out when they find themselves in harms way. When they return to Sunset Beach, it appears that Virginia has finally given up on removing Vanessa from her life, but in reality Virginia is only faking a friendship. Virginia realizes that she needs to go to extreme ways to get rid of Vanessa, and when she learns that Vanessa's mother is suffering from a rare genetic illness called Martin's Syndrome, she decides to use that info for her benefit. She goes to see a dark magic expert named Mrs. Moreau (Joyce Guy
), who helps her make a potion that makes Vanessa believe that she has the illness. Vanessa leaves town in order not to hurt Michael, and Virginia finally has her victory - that is, until Michael discovers that Vanessa hasn't really left town.
Virginia accidentally walks in on Vanessa and her doctor named Tyus in an embrace when they experiment with a drug that could cure Vanessa, and it gives her an idea on how to get rid of Vanessa once and for all. However, when the town is hit by an earthquake, Virginia thinks that her son Jimmy died and she is convinced that God is punishing her for her crimes. She covers her story, however, when she learns that Jimmy is alive. She then goes forward her most evil plot ever - impregnating Vanessa with Tyus's sperm which she steals from a local sperm bank. She does so, using, of all things, a turkey baster, and then blackmails Dr. Green into changing Vanessa's due date. Michael and Vanessa are finally broken up when Vanessa lies to Michael about who the father of the baby is, and Virginia berates Vanessa for lying. Her world comes crumbling down when Michael investigates Dr. Green and overhears Virginia threatening him. Virginia confesses her crimes to Michael and Vanessa before being carted off to a mental institution.
in February 1999. Kathleen Morgan of the Daily Record
said the turkey baster storyline was "incredible". While the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
included the storyline in their feature list of the most "over-the-top" in the history of soap opera. They added that "sticking it in another woman" was the most "outragous" plot to ever feature in the genre. However, The storyline proved controversial with some viewers. Candace Havens of the Charleston Gazette-Mail
said "It is certainly an uncomfortable storyline for viewers, lets hope it ends soon". She also said that through the storyline, Sunset Beach showed how a "fledging soap opera" does not always "stick with what works" with viewers. Havens later opined that Virginia was characterised as a "bad girl". Sally Stone of the Portsmouth Daily Times
said that Virginia delivered "a nasty kodak moment" when she manipulated pictures of Vanessa and Tyus. Mike Turner of Soap Opera Weekly
said that Virginia became the "bitch" of Sunset Beach. She was described in Upscale magazine as being "a lowdown and dirty gurl from da 'hood".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the US 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...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach (TV series)
Sunset Beach was an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on January 6, 1997, and last airing on December 31, 1999. The show followed the loves and lives of the people living in a fictional coastal city named Sunset Beach, on the coast of California...
, played by Dominique Jennings
Dominique Jennings
Dominique Jennings is an actress most notably recognized from her role as Virginia Harrison in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach. Dominique is the daughter of Anchelot of Swedish descent and Richard "Prophet" Jennings, a renowned African American Artist. She married her husband Lonnie Brandon, a...
. Virginia is characterised as a "bad girl" and has been central to a controversial storyline in which she impregnates a fellow female character without their consent.
Character development
Jennings was cast into the role of Virginia after she auditioned for another part in the programme. She was originally contracted to appear in ten episodes of the programme. However, after her first day on set, Jennings was offered a three year contract, which she accepted. In February 1999, it was announced that Sunset Beach had decided to end Jennings' contract with the serial, after they axed Virginia from the series. However, producers decided to not to kill her off and did not rule out a future return.While the character is portrayed as "the bitch of the beach", Jennings said that Virginia has "depth and edge" to her. She described her as single mother from South Central L.A., who is "trying to make a better life for her son" but making Vanessa and Michael's lives miserable in the process. She opined that Virginia's interest and appeal came through the fact she started out as a completely different character. Jennings also said that there was no other black female portraying such a villainess on daytime television during the nineties.She also had so much fun playing Virginia that she had to remind herself to "snap out" of character.
Virginia is subject to a storyline in which she drugs and impregnates love rival Vanessa Hart
Vanessa Hart
Vanessa Hart was a fictional character in the American soap opera Sunset Beach, portrayed by American actress Sherri Saum during the show's entire run.-Character history:...
(Sherri Saum
Sherri Saum
- Biography :Saum got her start at a Model Search America convention near her home in Kettering, Ohio. She was discovered during high school, modeling mostly during summer breaks until she decided to move to New York and work full time with the New York modeling agency Images Management. Her career...
) with Tyus Robinson's (Russell Curry
Russell Curry
Russell Curry Russell Curry Russell Curry (born August 28, 1956 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA is an actor most notably recognized from his roles in soap operas: Tyus Robinson on Sunset Beach, Lt. Vic Boswell on Santa Barbara, Carter Todd on Another World and more....
) sperm, using a turkey baster. In doing so Virginia hopes to win the heart of fellow character, Michael Bourne
Michael Bourne
Michael Bourne was a fictional character in the American soap opera Sunset Beach portrayed by American actor Jason Winston George during the show's entire run.-Controversy:...
(Jason Winston George
Jason Winston George
Jason Winston George is an American actor and model He is best known for his roles as Michael Bourne on the NBC daytime soap opera Sunset Beach, and as J.T. Hunter on the UPN television sitcom Eve...
). The storyline proved unpopular with some viewers. In another part of the storyline Virginia dresses up has her alter-ego "Nurse Jones" in an attempt to fool and run Vanessa's stay in hospital. Jennings was required to wear a padded fat suit and a "whacked-out" wig. Jennings said "It's really old and itchy, and it's hard to tell I have it on with the nurse's uniform, because the costume is so boxy. It's not so much heavy as it is hot. And the wig is just kind of out there."
Storylines
Virginia is a person that fights for what she wants, and she knows how to get it; she is a widow raising her son JimmyJimmy Harrison
Jimmy Harrison was an American jazz trombonist.Harrison began on trombone at age 15, playing locally in the Toledo, Ohio area...
, and she relies on the help of Michael, the man that accidentally shot her husband in a gang war
Gang War
Gang War is a 1928 gangster film, best known for being the main feature attached to Steamboat Willie, the debut of Mickey Mouse in sound. The film starred Jack Pickford in his last major role, as "Clyde", a saxophone player whose love for a dancer named Flowers traps him in the middle of a gang war...
. When she learns of Michael developing a relationship with a reporter named Vanessa, she decides to fight for what she claims as hers, and she infiltrates Michael's life in order to get of her. Claiming that her neighborhood isn't safe because of constant robberies, Virginia gets Michael to give her a place to stay at Surf Central, a house where Michael lives with a number of his other friends. Virginia doesn't hide her feelings for Michael in front of Vanessa and she makes it clear that she wants Vanessa gone. When Michael explains that he sees Virginia only as a friend, Virginia refuses to back down and only becomes more keen on breaking up Michael and Vanessa. She follows Michael and Vanessa one day to the cabin where they arranged a private evening, and sets the cabin on fire in order to prevent them from making love.
After successfully covering her tracks, Virginia goes on a private New Year's Eve celebration with Michael, Vanessa and the rest of the Surf Central gang, where her life is put at a risk when a serial killer is on the loose. Virginia gets a chance to get rid of Vanessa, but instead decides to help her out when they find themselves in harms way. When they return to Sunset Beach, it appears that Virginia has finally given up on removing Vanessa from her life, but in reality Virginia is only faking a friendship. Virginia realizes that she needs to go to extreme ways to get rid of Vanessa, and when she learns that Vanessa's mother is suffering from a rare genetic illness called Martin's Syndrome, she decides to use that info for her benefit. She goes to see a dark magic expert named Mrs. Moreau (Joyce Guy
Joyce Guy
Joyce Guy is an American actress most notably recognized from her recurring role as Mrs. Moreau in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach. Other roles include various guest roles on TV. She also appeared in an episode of season 7 of the TV show Friends.-External links:...
), who helps her make a potion that makes Vanessa believe that she has the illness. Vanessa leaves town in order not to hurt Michael, and Virginia finally has her victory - that is, until Michael discovers that Vanessa hasn't really left town.
Virginia accidentally walks in on Vanessa and her doctor named Tyus in an embrace when they experiment with a drug that could cure Vanessa, and it gives her an idea on how to get rid of Vanessa once and for all. However, when the town is hit by an earthquake, Virginia thinks that her son Jimmy died and she is convinced that God is punishing her for her crimes. She covers her story, however, when she learns that Jimmy is alive. She then goes forward her most evil plot ever - impregnating Vanessa with Tyus's sperm which she steals from a local sperm bank. She does so, using, of all things, a turkey baster, and then blackmails Dr. Green into changing Vanessa's due date. Michael and Vanessa are finally broken up when Vanessa lies to Michael about who the father of the baby is, and Virginia berates Vanessa for lying. Her world comes crumbling down when Michael investigates Dr. Green and overhears Virginia threatening him. Virginia confesses her crimes to Michael and Vanessa before being carted off to a mental institution.
Reception
For her portrayal of Virginia, Jennings was nominated for "Outstanding Villainess" at the 15th annual Soap Opera Digest AwardsSoap 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 February 1999. Kathleen Morgan of the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
said the turkey baster storyline was "incredible". While the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
included the storyline in their feature list of the most "over-the-top" in the history of soap opera. They added that "sticking it in another woman" was the most "outragous" plot to ever feature in the genre. However, The storyline proved controversial with some viewers. Candace Havens of the Charleston Gazette-Mail
Charleston Gazette-Mail
The Charleston Gazette-Mail is a Saturday and Sunday newspaper in Charleston, West Virginia, USA. It is published by a joint venture between the Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail which publish editorially rival, but non-competitive, in business terms, papers on weekdays.-Sunday:In...
said "It is certainly an uncomfortable storyline for viewers, lets hope it ends soon". She also said that through the storyline, Sunset Beach showed how a "fledging soap opera" does not always "stick with what works" with viewers. Havens later opined that Virginia was characterised as a "bad girl". Sally Stone of the Portsmouth Daily Times
Portsmouth Daily Times
Portsmouth Daily Times is a morning newspaper in Scioto County, Ohio with a print circulation of about 12,000. It first printed in 1852 and today is printed Tuesday through Sunday, and does not print on Christmas Day...
said that Virginia delivered "a nasty kodak moment" when she manipulated pictures of Vanessa and Tyus. Mike Turner of Soap Opera Weekly
Soap Opera Weekly
Soap Opera Weekly is a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It features onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional information...
said that Virginia became the "bitch" of Sunset Beach. She was described in Upscale magazine as being "a lowdown and dirty gurl from da 'hood".