HOTT OFF THE NET...The Inside Scoop From Cyberspace!
WHAT A GEM: Israeli-born actress Opal Anchel hasn't had a dull moment since joining PORT CHARLES as Arianna. First, she hit Eve with her car; then, she threw a major wrench in the Ian/Eve romance by marrying the handsome doctor herself! Anchel took a break from the action to check in with Digest Online.
DIGEST ONLINE: A lot has happened to Arianna since she arrived in Port Charles. What has been your biggest acting challenge so far?
OPAL ANCHEL: The scenes where she relives being raped. That was the most terrifying, challenging moment in my acting career. I realized just how important and devastating the subject is, and I wanted to treat it with so much respect. That whole week, I worked with a coach, and they brought a rape counselor to speak to me, and we watched movies about it. It was a lot of research and a lot of work, and I hope that when the scenes [aired], people thought it was honest.
DIGEST ONLINE: The show has never explicitly said where Arianna is from. Why is that?
ANCHEL: We prefer to keep it that way just because we don't want to be pointing fingers at a specific region or country. The issues that we're dealing with still [exist] in several countries in the Middle East and Africa and around the world. I am so impressed that day time took on a subject like this. That's [to the credit of] the writers and creators of the show, and I'm glad to be a part of that and to bring awareness to what's going on out there in the world with women in other countries.
Digest Online: How would you describe Arianna's feelings for Ian at this point?
Anchel: In her own mind - in a very naive, innocent, pure way - Arianna does care for Ian very much. Between belife for herself and being charmed by this man, somewhere in the middle, she has a mixed gray area where she really just wants things to be perfect.
Digest Online: How do you unwind when you're not working?
Anchel: Once about every two months I need to just go out and dance my tush off, but other than that, I'm a very, very mellow person. I like spending time with my family, reading good books, seeing good movies and [doing] jigsaw puzzles. I love lighting candles and listening to classical music; I'm very into relaxting. Actually, I'm borderline boring! Ion Overman [Gabriela], Julie Pinson [Eve] and I are trying to plan a spa trip, though, so that should be kind of wild!