Fans were delighted to spot one of daytime television’s most unforgettable scene-stealers out and about in Los Angeles, as the notoriously low-key actress made a rare public appearance. 

At 84, the soap icon—best known for her deliciously devious turn as Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives—looked vibrant and confident, flashing a knowing smile while out in a casual cardigan and black leggings.

She may have been dressed down, but fans couldn’t help but recall the over-the-top glamour and villainy of her Days alter ego, a character who buried rivals alive, schemed her way through Salem, and became a fan-favorite for her unapologetic flair.

Beyond the soap world, she made her mark across primetime too, with roles on Bonanza, Charlie’s Angels, The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii Five-O, Knots Landing, and even Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

She also had a principal role on The Don Rickles Show, showcasing her versatility across drama and comedy.

Can you guess which legendary actress this is?

Fans were delighted to spot one of daytime television’s most unforgettable scene-stealers out and about in Los Angeles , as the notoriously low-key actress made a rare public appearance

At 84, the soap icon— best known for her deliciously devious turn as Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives —looked vibrant and confident, flashing a knowing smile while out in a casual cardigan and black leggings

She may have been dressed down, but fans couldn’t help but recall the over-the-top glamour and villainy of her Days alter ego, a character who buried rivals alive, schemed her way through Salem, and became a fan-favorite for her unapologetic flair

If you guessed Louise Sorel, you’re absolutely right!

Sorel, born Louise Jacqueline Cohen in Los Angeles, grew up surrounded by showbiz—her father was a film producer and her mother, a concert pianist.

She launched her stage career at just 15 and went on to train at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse in New York before polishing her French at the Institut Français.

Her Broadway credits include Take Her, She’s Mine and Man and Boy, with memorable stage turns in The Lion in Winter and The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.

Sorel made her film debut in The Party’s Over (1965) and landed roles in cult classics like Plaza Suite, Crimes of Passion, and Airplane II: The Sequel.

But it was on television that she became a household name, racking up over 50 guest appearances on primetime shows like Star Trek, Bonanza, Charlie’s Angels, The Fugitive, The Incredible Hulk, Knots Landing, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

She also had a lead role on The Don Rickles Show and popped up on TV movies and genre favorites alike.

Her soap opera legacy began with her scene-stealing run as Augusta Wainwright on Santa Barbara, followed by a stint as D.A. Judith Russell Sanders on One Life to Live.

If you guessed Louise Sorel, you’re absolutely right!

Her soap opera legacy began with her scene-stealing run as Augusta Wainwright on Santa Barbara, followed by a stint as D.A. Judith Russell Sanders on One Life to Live; (seen as Vivian Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives)

But Sorel truly cemented her icon status as the wickedly unforgettable Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives, debuting in 1992 and returning repeatedly through 2023

From burying rivals alive to exchanging razor-sharp barbs, Vivian became a daytime TV legend—and won Sorel five Soap Opera Digest Awards along the way; (seen in 1964)

Beyond the soap world, she made her mark across primetime too, with roles on Bonanza, Charlie’s Angels, The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii Five-O, Knots Landing, and even Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sorel, born Louise Jacqueline Cohen in Los Angeles, grew up surrounded by showbiz—her father was a film producer and her mother, a concert pianist

She launched her stage career at just 15 and went on to train at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse in New York before polishing her French at the Institut Français

Her Broadway credits include Take Her, She’s Mine and Man and Boy, with memorable stage turns in The Lion in Winter and The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window

But it was on television that she became a household name, racking up over 50 guest appearances on primetime shows like Star Trek, Bonanza, Charlie’s Angels, The Fugitive, The Incredible Hulk, Knots Landing, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Her soap opera legacy began with her scene-stealing run as Augusta Wainwright on Santa Barbara, followed by a stint as D.A. Judith Russell Sanders on One Life to Live

But Sorel truly cemented her icon status as the wickedly unforgettable Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives, debuting in 1992 and returning repeatedly through 2023.

From burying rivals alive to exchanging razor-sharp barbs, Vivian became a daytime TV legend—and won Sorel five Soap Opera Digest Awards along the way.

She also briefly joined Port Charles as diva Donatella Stewart and turned heads as Judge Kay Campobello on All My Children.

In 2014, she joined the soap web series Beacon Hill, and despite being temporarily replaced on Days, fans rejoiced each time she made her grand return.

Whether stealing scenes or chewing scenery, Sorel’s decades-spanning career has made her one of soap opera’s most dynamic and enduring queens.