Catching up with...Vanessa Marano (ex-Eden Baldwin, Y&R, 2008-10)
Soap Opera Digest|April 17, 2023
An actress since she was 2 years old, Vanessa Marano had already amassed an impressive resumé of stage, film and prime-time TV credits when she was encouraged to make a career pivot to daytime.
Devin Owens
Catching up with...Vanessa Marano (ex-Eden Baldwin, Y&R, 2008-10)

Just The Facts

Birthday: October 31

The Best Thing About A Halloween Birthday: "That always got me an extra piece of candy when I was trick-or-treating."

Born In: Los Angeles, CA Middle Name: Nicole

Sounds Fishy: Her first film role was lending her vocal talents to the animated movie Finding Nemo.

Sister Act, Too: Little sister Laura Marano is also an actress.

Relationship Status: Single and "healthy".

Claim To Fame: She's best known for playing the unpopular April on the popular GILMORE GIRLS.

Pet Peeve: "Right now I'm in a constant debate with myself about whether or not I should get a dog. Katie Leclerc, my old co-star from SWITCHED AT BIRTH, I've been dog-sitting her adorable Australian shepherd named Joey and I've always been a big dog lover."

"I had never done a soap before and my mom [Ellen Marano], who was an actress in her 20s and had been on old-world soaps like SANTA BARBARA, said to me, 'It's the best training you'll ever have in your entire life," she explains. "I'm all about working, so I was like, 'Why not?"

" Marano first hit up Y&R, where she auditioned for the role of Abby, who was being hyper-aged to a teenager, and recalls, "Of course, I wasn't hired for that because the fabulous Hayley Erin got it, but at that time they were going to bring on a new Eden and they said, 'We see you as her."

" Marano said yes and she became the second actress to play Michael Baldwin's little sister. It wasn't long until she learned that her mother was right about the benefits of soap work. "There was all that memorization, not only of your lines but remembering blocking as well," she points out. "It was like being thrown into the deep end but I thought it was really fun.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SOAP OPERA DIGESTView all
GREAT Expectations
Soap Opera Digest

GREAT Expectations

With A Baby And Wedding On The Way, Y&R's Camryn Grimes Is Excited About The Future

time-read
5 mins  |
November 13, 2023
thumbs up! and down!
Soap Opera Digest

thumbs up! and down!

Best Of Show Or Worse For Wear? Digest Decides.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 13, 2023
DARIN BROOKS CLARIFIES B&B STATUS
Soap Opera Digest

DARIN BROOKS CLARIFIES B&B STATUS

Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) posted an update on social media after fans noticed that he was removed from the opening credits of the show he first joined in 2013.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
A NOVEMBER to REMEMBER
Soap Opera Digest

A NOVEMBER to REMEMBER

Your must-have guide to soaps upcoming tales.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 13, 2023
Hot Plots Preview!
Soap Opera Digest

Hot Plots Preview!

What Will Happen

time-read
3 mins  |
November 13, 2023
Y&R: VICTOR'S ULTIMATE TEST
Soap Opera Digest

Y&R: VICTOR'S ULTIMATE TEST

Victor arrives at the GCAC for a meeting with his sons that Adam has organized. \"This is all Adam's plan to prove that his dad is incompetent,\" begins Mark Grossman (Adam). \"Adam has arranged for a psychiatrist, Dr. Skelton, to be sitting nearby so he can observe Victor's behavior and make a proper diagnosis.\"

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2023
GH PREVIEW: DREW IS FREE!
Soap Opera Digest

GH PREVIEW: DREW IS FREE!

Carly gets a happy surprise when Drew shows up at Kelly's, having been granted an early release from Pentonville.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
B&B: RIDGE KEEPS MUM ABOUT ERIC
Soap Opera Digest

B&B: RIDGE KEEPS MUM ABOUT ERIC

After learning that Eric is dying, Ridge tries to make his father's life a little easier. \"Ridge told Eric he won the fashion showdown because he realizes that his father needed this,\" explains Thorsten Kaye (Ridge). \"He's in no way trying to be patronizing, and if Eric were to ever find out, I'd hope he see the love behind it. Ridge just thought it was the right thing to do.\"

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2023
DAYS: LI IS MURDERED!
Soap Opera Digest

DAYS: LI IS MURDERED!

Gabi and Stefan's plot to take over DiMera takes a deadly turn when he finds her kneeling over Li's body, holding a knife.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
BLAKE BERRIS ON NEW DAYS ROLE
Soap Opera Digest

BLAKE BERRIS ON NEW DAYS ROLE

After years of playing a gamut of wild and wonderful characters on DAYS - the quirky, obsessive Nick, a Halloween zombie, and, most recently, the gatekeeper to hell Blake Berris is tackling something new and different: a bona fide leading man. And he's finally ready to embrace it.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2023