This petite, alluring actress earned widespread attention and two Daytime Emmy nominations for her powerhouse performance as Brenda Barrett on the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital". A native Californian and youngest of four, Vanessa Marcil frequently traveled with her family living in such far-flung locations as Anchorage, Alaska and Reno, Nevada before they settled in Palm Desert, California. At age eight, she began her acting career, appearing in local theatrical productions. Originally intending to become a lawyer, Marcil dropped out of college to pursue a full-time career in show