Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409190001
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By LYNN ELBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Josie Bissett understands this. She knows the cruel hand of fate must slap her ``Melrose Place'' character Jane Mancini. Repeatedly. But a self-possessed sort like Bissett can't help but ponder the irony:
Will the basically intelligent Jane, ``Melrose Place's'' sweetheart to the crafty spice of Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear), NEVER get a clue?
As the Fox series' third season begins tonight (8 p.m.), Bissett has already faced the sad truth of what's in store for Ms. Mancini, fashion designer-cum-professional-victim.
``Yeah, Jane goes through more [hell],'' she says, wearily.
The pert Jane has seen her good husband (Thomas Calabro) turn bad and faithless; had a budding romance maliciously wrecked; watched her shameless sister (Laura Leighton) marry said husband; been wrongfully accused of his attempted murder.
``The same things are happening over and over again to the same characters,'' Bissett says. ``In life, we learn from our lessons. I guess on the show we don't.''
``I just have to keep thinking, `I'm not Jane. Maybe she doesn't learn as quick as some people. Maybe she had a problem with her father, and that's why she keeps trusting these men who keep cheating on her.'
``I have to justify it somehow,'' Bissett says.
She got a bit of a reprieve from Jane with a TV movie role. ``Deadly Vows,'' airing 8 p.m. Tuesday on Fox, is the story of a vulnerable young woman (you know who) seduced by an older man (Gerald McRaney) plotting to murder his wife.
Unlike Jane, the movie's Bobbi is a sheltered and lonely girl. But there are parallels, Bissett concedes.
``They're both the same in the sense they're a tad bit naive, I would say, and live a little bit in denial. I'm seeing that especially in the script we're doing now on `Melrose.' Jane's living in deep denial.''
This is all out of character for Bissett, a self-assured young woman who seems older than her 23 years and who confesses that ``I always found a way to get what I wanted.''
``I have this incredible determination to do whatever it is I want to do, and I have so much faith in myself that I will get whatever I want,'' she says. ``I think that's why I'm so successful right now.''
Born to a middle-class family in Seattle - mom and dad run a glass business - the blond, fresh-faced Bissett announced at age 16 she was skipping off to Japan for a modeling gig.
Her parents were ``incredibly supportive. When I think back on it, that's such a young age. See what I mean? I must have finagled them into letting me go. I talked to my teachers and said `I'll do my homework in Japan.' I worked it out; I don't know how, but I did.''
She quickly made a second trip to Japan, then moved to California on her return to pursue modeling here. She was 17. Acting lessons seemed a natural progression; Bissett went on to roles in TV (``The Hogan Family'') and films (``Book of Love,'' ``Mikey'').
``A lot of times I think I've been really fortunate and things have come easy. But I went through some stuff, I really took some chances,'' she says.
One thing she doesn't take chances on is her 2-year-old marriage to fellow actor Rob Estes, who stars in the syndicated series ``Silk Stalkings.''
``To us, the most important thing is our relationship and we would never let the [entertainment] business get in the way of our relationship,'' she said. ``If we have to do love scenes, we won't do really graphic ones.''
This levelheaded attitude helps keep her ``Melrose Place'' job in perspective. A recent magazine article that said she was fed up with playing Jane was dead wrong, Bissett protests.
Yes, Jane does start the season accused of her ex's attempted murder. Yes, she does get involved in another star-crossed romance, this involving designer Chris Marchette (Andrew Williams).
It is Jane's lot to flounder; Bissett simply won't.
``I'm happy being the nice girl. I don't want to play mean. I definitely want to play different than Jane when I'm not doing `Melrose.' But for `Melrose,' I'm completely content with what I'm doing.''
by CNB