Passions Prima Donna Simone Is Coming Out!
by Daniel R. Coleridge
Cathy Jeneen Doe
Let's face it: Simone Russell has never been anyone's favorite character on NBC's Passions. For six years she has lived in the shadow of her pretty, popular big sister, tennis-pro Whitney (Brook Kerr). And the attention-starved Simone has never borne her discontent quietly, bitching about Whit more loudly than Jan Brady used to cry, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" Sheesh. Fortunately, this month Simone finally grows up and gets a life of her own. In a surprise for Passions fans who remember her relentless schoolgirl crush on Chad, she will reveal she's gay. Here, Cathy Jeneen Doe tells all about her character's transformation.
You're my favorite Simone so far. You don't whine like those two others did.
[Laughs] I try to keep the whining to a minimum, 'cause obviously it doesn't work.
How familiar are you with past portrayals of Simone?
I used to watch way back when the first Simone (Lena Cardwell) was on. Years later, on the day I booked Passions, I found out I was also doing an independent film called Buds for Life with Chrystee Pharris-Larkins. I was scared to death because I didn't know why she left. It was completely amicable, everybody loved her and she just decided that it was time to move on. But I didn't have any of this information when I first showed up on [the Buds] set and she said, "So. You're the new Simone." I was like, "Yeahhh?" Then she smiled, hugged me and we talked for hours. She gave me all of this unbelievably helpful advice even though she had nothing to gain. And she still calls and checks up on me now!
Sweet! What is Buds for Life about?
It's a comedy about brothers [released last year on DVD]. Chrystee and I played their love interests. Donn Swaby, the ex-Chad, was actually one of the writers! I didn't know about any of these Passions connections going into it.
So Simone's suddenly a lesbian. Did the producers
tell you why Harmony's getting a gay character?
Passions is very into diversity, so it was only a matter of time. But no, actually, they didn't tell me why. They just told me this is where my story is going. I didn't ask, "Why now?" I said, "That's great!" I was just really happy since I've had this role for a year, but now I'm finally starting to be in the forefront. Up to now, my role was mostly, "You stole my man, Whitney!" Then we both found out Chad was our half brother, so Simone truly had to let it go and get a grip. She dodged a bullet on that one! The rest of my role was "Kay, it's gonna be OK. Kay, this isn't a good idea. Kay, let me help you get out of trouble." That's about it.
Simone comes out to her mother Dr. Eve Russell (Tracey Ross), this week.
This is the first time you see Simone not just lashing out at her mom. She usually doesn't open up because she feels hurt and wronged. But it's a double whammy because Eve is very happy to see that I'm talking to her, but she gets this doozy of information that she had no idea of!
Let's talk about Simone's secret girlfriend, Rae.
Simone and Rae were friends first. She's the first person in Simone's life who didn't ignore her because they had their own humongous crisis going on.
[Laughs] Rae listens to Simone. The problem is, Simone's still young and new to relationships; she latches on to Rae a little too hard. Simone thinks they need to get married right away, like everybody else in Harmony! Rae is older and has more life experience, so she calms her down and grounds her.
Will these women have a real relationship with love scenes like Bianca did on All My Children?
We do share kisses and show affection, like holding hands. But this isn't a big lesbian story line, it's just showing an aspect of who Simone is. She has grown up right under her family's noses because they don't pay Simone any attention. She is totally comfortable with herself and knows there's nothing wrong with who she is, but she has kept her personal life close to the vest because Harmony's a small town where everyone knows your business. She's just barely out of her teens, and doesn't know how the people in her life are going to deal with her [being openly gay].
Well, you know you've arrived on Passions when Tabitha the witch (Juliet Mills) decides your character is worth spying on.
Yeah, my face got a close-up in her magic bowl! Tabitha spent a whole 10 minutes trying to figure out what was going on with me. I was very psyched!
I am soooo happy for Cathy. Good for her.
I love Cathy to PIECES.....PIECES I tell you BUT THIS SHYT will be written poorly!
Sorry NOT getting my hopes up. I'm very happy that she's getting frontburner finally (well deserved) but this won't be Binks in 02 (that was the ISH) until they fcuked that up royally but at least that had a chance!
On that note, YAY for Cathy again. I hope I'm wrong :pray:
I feel even more for Cathy, especially after the past couple of days. She CAN act. She's GOOD.
I love Simone..I admit most of my good will for the character is because of Lena and how much I adored her.
But, I've watched soaps for 25 years....and, I know what happens to gay characters on soaps.
So, the word isn't good, which angers me, both as a Simone fan, who's waited for a GOOD story for her, and for Cathy,who I like as an actress.
She's gonna get screwed back to obscurity.
Screwed is an understatement.
Today's show with Kay says it all.
E.
man, cathy is the best. she doesn't deserve what is most likely gonna happen with this. the whit/simone stuff touched me yesterday.