Saturday Soapy Flashback: ‘Sunset Beach’s’ Crazy Virginia Harrison

Virginia (Dominique Jennings) conceiving the inconceivable. 

In the late 90’s, the soap opera genre had its campy moments. The short lived Sunset Beach was no exception. Although Ben and Meg were the obvious endgame supercouple, sweetheart reporter Vanessa Hart and her lifeguard lover Michael Bourne overcame great odds to be together as well. That one obstacle was the sensational, wildly jaw-dropping Virginia Harrison.

She should have just sat there and watched her son.

Jealousy got the best of the dangerous Virginia (Dominique Jennings). 

Michael, a former gang affiliate turned goodie good guy, accidentally killed Virginia’s husband and father to young Jimmy. A guilt ridden Michael often helped them out, even finding a place for them to live closer to him. Opportunistic Virginia took advantage of his kindness, slyly manipulating him into doing the simplest of favors. Most soapy vixens are tempted by preoccupied men, allowing lust and obsession to take control of their sensibilities. Virginia conducted more heinous acts, throwing morality out the window, vowing to take out her biggest threat at any cost. Consequences be damned indeed!

Dominique Jennings (Virginia) for Soap Opera Digest, March 1998. After Sunset Beach ended, Jennings had a few minor roles, but did not take off. It would be awesome if she joined another soap— daytime or prime time, network, cable or otherwise. She was an excellent scene stealer. 

Within the daytime soap opera realm, women of color villains are few and far between. Writers chose to have these characters be on the good side— a little too squeaky clean good. Days of Our Lives’ Lexie Carter had some very bad girl moments as the daughter of the evil Stefano Dimera. Young and the Restless had a gem in Hilary Curtis Hamilton, a young woman avenging her mother’s death all over Genoa City. General Hospital’s Jordan Ashford is not exactly flawless. Yet Virginia Harrison’s crimes are a lot more memorable, partly due to their controversial, far fetched, absolutely ludicrous nature. Her entertaining antics came around a time when fantasies were abundant, showing the inner workings of their minds. Nowadays soap operas rely heavily on flashbacks and repetitive dialogue. And the terrific portrayal by Dominique Jennings was nominated for the Outstanding Villainous Soap Opera Digest Award.

Virginia’s bright, technicolored Insemination Operation fantasy. 

 The first strike was setting a cabin on fire. Virginia could not let Vanessa and Michael get any closer— especially physically. She stalked them to their romantic getaway and unleashed her inner arsonist. Why would a gorgeous, thirty-something single mother resort to symbolically burn away the remainder of her sanity for a man as aloof as Michael? That is the obsession acting out, acting out in a desperate, give-no-figs fashion. Meanwhile, Vanessa told Michael over and over again that Virginia wanted him, but the hardheaded man refused to listen to the intelligent reporter that he has nicknamed “Scoop.”

She’s no Lola. What Virginia (Dominique Jennings) wanted, she didn’t get: Michael (Jason George). 

While the fire did nothing to smother the flames of Vanessa and Michael’s romance, Virginia still continued sabotaging, wedging her way into their growing love. She continued using Jimmy, seeing how much her boy idolized Michael. On an island vacation, invited by a clueless Michael, Virginia often fantasized about offing Vanessa while a serial killer is on the loose (who turned out to be Ben’s evil twin Derek). Virginia changed her mind on murder, but later found out about Martin’s Syndrome, which Vanessa’s mother had, and weaved this information into a new diabolical scheme involving witch doctors and poison. A terrified Vanessa dumped Michael and hid away in shame. In her absence, Virginia tried and tried, but Michael was just not interested.

Virginia (Dominique Jennings) never gave up even though she really, really should have.

If disfiguring Vanessa’s face, psychologically wounding her “competition” was not enough, Turkey Baster Gate 1998 sent Virginia over the edge of no return. Virginia stole the sperm of Dr. Tyus Robinson, stuffed it in a turkey baster, drugged both Tyus and Vanessa, staged them in bed together, and inserted... Well, it was the most grotesque, most horrific event that a woman has ever done to another woman short of killing them. This incomprehensible rape led to Vanessa becoming pregnant and the temporary break up of her and Michael. However, when they reconciled, an enraged Virginia caused Vanessa to lose the very baby she disgustingly created.

Dominique Jennings (Virginia) with Jason George (Michael) and Sherri Saum (Vanessa).

In the soapy Sunset Beach finale, Vanessa and Michael got married in a double wedding with Ben and Meg. Months prior, crazy, reckless Virginia was carted off to a mental hospital for the criminally insane. Still, what a juicy, hilarious, eye popping afternoon Virginia made. By god, she shocked the airwaves.