Vivian Alamain
| Vivian Alamain | |||||||||||||
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| Days of our Lives character | |||||||||||||
| File:Vivian Alamain.jpg Louise Sorel as Vivian Alamain | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Louise Sorel 1992–2000; 2009– | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | March 2, 1992 | ||||||||||||
| Created by | Richard J. Allen & Beth Milstein | ||||||||||||
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Vivian Alamain Kiriakis (previously DiMera, and Jones) is a fictional character on the NBC Soap Opera, Days of our Lives, head of the series' Alamain family. Created by writer Richard J. Allen, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Louise Sorel. In 2000, Sorel departed from the series and the role was not recast with another actress.[1] Sorel returned to the series' in 2009[2], after Vivian's niece in law, Carly Manning kills her nephew Lawrence Alamain.
The character was conceived as short-term; Sorel is credited with "turning what was a day player role into a compelling, long-term character".[3] Initially designed to be a ruthless, cunning and one-dimensional villain, she is presented as having significant trouble with the law; her infamous 1993 Buried Alive storyline is noted as one of soap opera's classic, "most remembered and impactful" storylines.[4] The storyline's popularity compelled the writers to evolve Vivian into a complex character, often selfish and acting the villain but also passionate about protecting her loved ones and capable of showing kindness and a conscience.
Created by writer Richard J. Allen, she is portrayed by actress Louise Sorel from 1992 until 2000, and most recently reprised the role in 2009.[5] Vivian is known for being a primary villainous on the show. She is most remembered for burying Carly Manning alive back in 1993.[4] Vivian's name was mentioned in 2007 at John Black's funeral, where family and friends learned that Vivian paid all the expenses for John's funeral.[6] Vivian Alamain is the sister of Leopold Alamain. She is the aunt of Lawrence Alamain. In addition, she is the grandaunt of Nicholas Alamain. She is the ex-wife of Victor Kiriakis, Steven Jones, and Stefano DiMera.[6]
Sorel was named #41 on the 50 Greatest Soap Actresses for her work as Vivian Alamain.[7] She has won many awards for her work as Vivian such as Soap Opera Digest win for Outstanding Female Scene Stealer in 1999, Soap Opera Digest win for Outstanding Female Showstopper in 1997, Soap Opera Digest win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1996, Soap Opera Digest win for Outstanding Female Scene in 1995, 1994 Soap Opera Digest win for Outstanding Villain/Villainess, 1993 Soap Opera Digest nomination for Outstanding Villain/Villainess.[7]
Character history
First Stint
Vivian, the aunt of Lawrence Alamain arrives in Salem on March 2, 1992.[6] She is determined to take over Alamain corporations, but is foiled when John Black inherits them. Vivian looks to be rich, and powerful, so she pursues wealthy crime lord, Victor Kiriakis.[6] Vivian marries Victor for business purposes, but the marriage is short lived.
After Victor leaves her for Kate Roberts, Vivian sets out to destroy Carly Manning. Vivian is taking herbal pills from Dr. Wu, which makes her loopy. She begins to target Carly's patients, by injecting them with cleaning fluids.[6] The police beging to investigate Carly for murder. Carly learns Vivian is the one killing off her patients, and sets out to prove it. A crazed Vivian gives Carly a strong dose of morphine to put her in a very deep sleep. Vivian gives Carly a serum that gives her a death-like paralysis. Carly is pronounced dead, and Vivian buries Carly alive in a coffin, built with a low oxygen supply, and little water. Vivian stops taking her herbs, and realizes what she is doing is crazy, and with the help of Lawrence she digs Carly up.[6] Vivian is arrested and put in Pine Haven Sanitarium.[6]
Vivian is released, and sets her sights on destroying Kate, and Victor's marriage. She finds out that Kate can't produce a male heir, so she carries Kate & Victor's baby.[6] Vivian is now pregnant with their child, and tries to seduce Victor who doesn't fall for her tricks. Vivian gives birth to Philip Kiriakis, and Kate tries everything to get custody.[6] Vivian drugs Kate's coffee, but the coffee is meant for the pilot of a plane Kate is on. The plane crashes, but Kate lives although they can't find her body.[6] She and Victor make love, after they can't find Kate's body. Kate returns, and wants custody of Philip, and gets it. Victor later divorces Victor, and Vivian takes comfort in Rudolfo.
Vivian receives bad news when she learns she is fired from Titan.[6] She begins to look for alternative methods to cure Victor after he suffers a stroke.[6] Vivian leaves Salem with her sidekick Ivan to get a fresh start. They travel around the world, and live off Ivan's winnings.
Return
Vivian returns to Salem in 2009, seeking revenge on Carly Manning for killing her nephew Lawrence.[6] She arranges for someone else to take the fall for her nephew's killing, however, as she would prefer to deal with Carly personally. She discovers that Carly had an illegitimate child due to an affair, and that Lawrence had forced her to give up the child. The resolves to find the child, now much older, and kill her in order to hurt Carly as she has been hurt by Lawrence's death. A vision of Lawrence encourages her in this scheme. Victor Kiriakis, her old flame and fellow adversary to Carly, invites her to live in his mansion and offers to help her in her Vengeful scheme. With the help of her new manservant and henchman Gus, Vivian learns that Carly's daughter is Melanie Layton, who is engaged to Victor's son Phillip. Because of this, Victor forbids her to kill Melanie, and tells her to focus on Carly instead. Vivian ignores him and befriends Melanie, helping with the wedding and poisoning a comb that she gifts to Melanie, to wear on her wedding day. Gus holds Carly hostage in a warehouse where she will watch her daughter's death. Carly turns the table by attacking Gus and stealing his phone. She texts Vivian, calling her to the warehouse. Vivian arrives and is attacked by Carly, but Hope has discovered Vivian's plot also. Hope arrives and stops Carly from killing Vivian by revealing that Melanie is fine. Victor had discovered Vivian's scheme and switched the comb with a safe one. Hope begins to cuff Vivian and arrest her, but Gus awakens behind astack of crates and topples them onto Hope and Carly. Vivian returns to the wedding at the Kiriakis mansion and lures Melanie to the rooftop terrace to hurl her off. Carly follows with Hope's gun and is about to shoot Vivian, who reaches for a metal bar, but Melanie steps in front of Vivian and is shot and comatose. Victor scolds Vivian for defying him and threatens to turn her over to the police if Melanie dies. If Melanie lives however, he will get her off and ensure that Carly is sent to prison for the shooting. Vivian and Carly are both arrested, after Hope's statement implicates Vivian. Bo interrogates Vivian to no avail. Victor has hidden all evidence pointing to Vivian's involvement and she is freed. Phillip and Daniel Jonas, who has recently learned that he is Melanie's father, also threaten Vivian. Melanie lives and Victor warns her that he will hand the police the evidence against her if she makes another attempt on Melanie. Vivian, nevertheless, makes another attempt on her life, but Melanie wakes as Vivian is about to suffocate her in her hospital bed. The dazed Melanie ells Vivian to kill her, and reveals her tormented childhood to Vivian. Vivian is moved and relents. She tells the Vision of Lawrence that she refuses to kill the young woman and, with Victor's encouragement, she focuses on Carly. Gus is arrested and questioned by Bo and Hope, but does not give up his mistress and is released. Vivian moves out of the mansion temporarily when Phillip tells Victor that he will not return with Melanie while Vivian is there. She soon returns, however, and makes a deal with Carly. She Carly and her loved ones alone if Carly will plead guilty to shooting Melanie. Melanie, angry at finding out that Carly is the Mother who gave her up, does not help and is hateful towards Carly, to Vivian's delight. Hope, however, brings Melanie around, and as Carly is about to be sentenced, Melanie exhonerates her by telling the judge that the shooting was an accident. Vivian is not pleased, and threatens to kill Carly, and continues to torment her, even in spite of Bo's warning to leave her alone. Bo goes to Vivian and threatens to kill Vivian, even if it means jail time, in order to protect Carly. Victor, who does not want Bo in jail or Vivian dead, offers to marry Vivian if she will stop her Vendetta, and she agrees. She learns, however, that Carly has been threating to ruin Chloe Lane's relationship with Daniel due to an affair Chloe had with Phillip. Vivian offers her support to Chloe in dealing with Carly. Vivian is married to Vivian in a sombre ceremony where both Victor and the attending guests are bitter and cynical about the bizarre proceedings. Chloe, however, turns to Vivian for help. Vivian gives Chloe the number of one of her past henchmen and tells Chloe to ensure that Carly is in an elevator at the hospital when the henchman instructs. Chloe is uncomfortable with killing Carly, but Vivian convinces her that it is the only way. When the time comes, however, Chloe attempts to stop the killing several times, finally pushing Carly from the elevator and ending up being dropped herself when the cable malfunctions. Vivian, meanwhile, is on her honeymoon and Victor notices her preoccupation. He threatens to end the marriage and make her life very difficult if she anything happens to Carly. Vivian, however, discovers that Chloe was in the elevator and has survived. She vows to punish Chloe for failing to kill Carly.
References
- ^ http://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/louisesorel/
- ^ http://soapoperasource.com/days/news/louise-sorel-returns-to-days-as-louise-sorel.html
- ^ http://www.soapcentral.com/days/news/2009/0727-sorel.php
- ^ a b "8 Great Buried Alive Moments". www.movieline.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Louise Sorel Returns as Vivian Alamain". Daytime Confidential.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Vivian Alamain Bio". NBC.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "50 Greatest Soap Actresses". WeLoveSoaps.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
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