Rena Sofer is all about spunk.You might remember her from “General Hospital,” where she played Lois Cerullo, entertainment manager to Miguel Morez (Ricky Martin) – sporting long nails, red lipstick, provocative clothes and a heavy-duty Brooklyn accent.
In her new role on “Just Shoot Me,” Sofer plays Vicki Costa, a hairdresser (who also has a Brooklyn accent) hired to give the fictional magazine Blush a fashion uplift.
“My character is very much the poor version of Carrie on “Sex and the City,” she told The Post. “You’re not going to be staring at her clothes more than you’re going to be staring at her performance, but [they’re] very eclectic and funky.”
Discovered in New York at age of 15 by a modeling agent, Sofer shunned modeling and instead decided to become an actress. She immediately began snagging roles, like a spot on the soap “Loving” and a part in the movie “A Stranger Among Us,” opposite Melanie Griffith.
After winning an Emmy in 1995 for her role on “GH,” Sofer appeared on “Spin City,” “Friends,” “Seinfeld” and “Ed,” as well as a continuing role on “Melrose Place.” Her feature films include “Keeping the Faith, “Opposite Sex” and “Traffic.”
You can catch the 33-year-old actress – who just became engaged to director/producer Sanford Brookstaver – playing a gym coach in the telefilm remake of Stephen King’s “Carrie” (tomorrow night at 8 p.m. on NBC).
Q: Describe your personal style.
A: Adult Garanimals. Like when Kmart had a line of clothing for kids for Garanimals where you can match up the purple dinosaur with the purple dinosaur. When I buy clothes, I like to buy them in outfits so I know they go together. I like a very simple, natural style. I never like to be the attention getter, I like to come under the radar and be cool about my look, very classic and stylish. I’m not into fads.
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Armani, Gucci, and Richard Tyler has beautifully tailored clothes. I also love Stella McCartney’s stuff.
Q: Where do you enjoy shopping?
A: I’ll go to Maxx studio because they’re a daily wear without being too expensive. Or BCBG, but that’s usually too much for me. I tend to dress really casual, especially with the work we do. I’m a mom, [and] you never want to be dressed up too much around kids.
Q: What do you wear for a big night out?
A: A pair of pants and some pretty top.
Q: Do you work out?
A: I do yoga at Angel City Yoga in the valley.
Q: Do you follow a special diet?
A: No. I find that when you do yoga, you don’t crave unhealthy food. But I try to always let myself eat whatever I want. I have dessert or chocolate everyday, but I’ll only have a few bites. I try to have a little bit of cereal in the morning, and then I always try to have protein for dinner too. But I eat pasta and stuff like that.
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: I just like down time. My fiancé and I like to spend a lot of time watching movies, reading, going hiking, taking long drives.
Q: What gives you substance?
A: My family is everything to me. My future husband, my 6-year-old daughter, Rosabel, my stepdaughter from a previous marriage. My father lives with me.
Q: Do you have any special health or beauty tips?
A: I use hair conditioner to shave my legs. It’s great. It’s better than shaving cream. It makes your legs soft and doesn’t give you razor burn. I also use Clinique Light Exfoliationg Scrub. It make your skin really pretty.
Q: Whose style do you most admire?
A: I think that when Michelle Pfeiffer goes out, she’s exactly what I aspire to be – she always looks beautiful and sexy, but she never looks like she’s trying to be the center of attention.
Q: Have you ever had a fashion faux pas?
A: When Madonna and Sandra Bernhard [were wearing] Knickerbocker jeans, I think I wore a light-colored pair with black stockings and combat boots and a big black belt. It was the worst.
Q: What would you love to own but would never buy for yourself?
A: An incredible, Elizabeth Taylor-y diamond necklace.
Q: What was your last splurge?
A: I knew my boyfriend was going to ask me to marry him. And I was sure the ring was going to be exceptional, and I bought him a Rolex Explorer. And I engraved ‘yes’ on it. And when he proposed, I gave him the watch.
Q: What is your most prized possession?
A: My engagement ring. It’s emerald cut. A little over 2 carats with a little bit smaller than half-carat cuts on the side. It’s about 3 carats all together.
By Farrah Weinstein
November 3, 2002
New York Post