Renee Jones' AOL Chat (5/30/97)
OnlineHost: Your hosts this evening are Nina (AOLiveMC14) and Terri (AOLiveMC11).
OnlineHost: Renee Jones was born into a large family of five siblings in Opalacka, FL, and grew up in Georgia and New York. Prior to breaking into the entertainment industry, Jones worked as a secretary. At the age of 19 she signed with the prestigious Ford Models. Jones later made her acting debut on the prime-time series "The White Shadow." Welcome!
AOLiveMC14: Welcome to AOL, RENEE JONES! It is a pleasure to have you with us tonight.
ReneeJnes: I'm so happy to be here. I'm so sorry I'm late. I got stuck in traffic, but thanks for waiting for me!
AOLiveMC14: Evrething has our first question tonight:
Question: When were you last in Opa Locka?
ReneeJnes: I was born there and I left there when I was 3 months old. I've never gone back.
AOLiveMC14: KZollin81 has our next question:
Question: When is this mascarade ever going to end they keep on dragging it on and on and Im going crazy waiting for the conclusion . Will it end any time soon or am I just wasting my time?
ReneeJnes: Are you talking about the Kristen/Marlena/John/Susan story or the Austin/Sami memory-loss story? They've been going on for awhile and I don't see it changing much in the near future.
AOLiveMC14: Riderbear has this to ask:
Question: Ms. Jones, Hi I'm a big Days fan!!! I was wondering are you anything like your character Lexie Carver??
ReneeJnes: In some ways, I am as far as being strong willed and hard worker but in other ways, as far as friendships, Renee is a better friend because if Renee was Marlena's friend and I knew that my father, Stefano, had kidnapped Marlena, I would be getting in touch with my father convincing him to let her go. Whereas Lexie is not even dealing with it.
AOLiveMC14: Chaz1d would like to know...
Question: How do you think your part on days is evolving?
ReneeJnes: Actually, unfortunately I don't feel it has evolved in the last year. My first few years on the show, I had good storylines with the fantasy of being with Jonah and finding out that Celeste was my mom and Stefano was my father, but unfortunately I haven't had much to do since that happened. I'm hoping that Lexie will get more integrated in the storyline in the future.
AOLiveMC14: MEL0827 has this one for you tonight, Renee...
Question: Who is your fav costar on "Days?"
ReneeJnes: Hmm...that's a hard one! Everybody on the show is so cool, even when I'm not working with them. Just hanging out or talking with them in the hallways or makeup room. If I'm forced to name a favorite, it would have to be working with Celeste, my mom. Only because of the conflict we're having. I love conflict.
AOLiveMC14: MFoster58 would like to know...
Question: Do you have kids?
ReneeJnes: No.
AOLiveMC14: FashinFrk has this for you...
Question: I love to watch "Days of Our Lives." Will Marlena escape or not? I never find out because I'm in school.
ReneeJnes: Oh boy. You missed a good episode today because Kristen gets locked in the wine cellar with Marlena. Susan locks her in, so I don't know how long Kristen and Marlena will be stuck down in the wine cellar together.
AOLiveMC14: Our next question comes from CoGroup...
Question: Will Lexie and Abe ever have a child?
ReneeJnes: Please let Lexie and Abe have a child. There's no reason for us not to. It's all in the writers hands. I let them know that a lot of fans want it to happen, and I would love for it to happen.
AOLiveMC14: AmyD522 asks...
Question: Is the actress that portrays Susan and Kristen really nice in real life?
ReneeJnes: It's hard to believe, but she's one of the nicest people you've ever want to meet.
AOLiveMC14: JM8417 has this next question...
Question: Will you be playing a really big role in the show soon?
ReneeJnes: Now that Stefano is back, I'm hoping that you'll be seeing more of me. I know that Stefano wants to have a relationship with Lexie. I just don't know how he is going about accomplishing that.
AOLiveMC14: KZollin81 asks...
Question: What do they plan to do with you when this conflict comes to an end? You cant be Laura's nurse forever.
ReneeJnes: You've got me mixed up with Lynn. I'm Lexie, Abe's wife.
AOLiveMC14: ROB445 wants to know...
Question: WHAT DO YOU DO IN FREE TIME?
ReneeJnes: I love reading and traveling. I go to the gym. Also, I play tennis.
AOLiveMC14: BMAHER66 has tonight's next question:
Question: When is "Days of Our Lives" going to do a one hour special?
ReneeJnes: I don't know. I know they did one two years ago and a year before that, a night time special. But I don't know when they're going to do another night time hour long special.
AOLiveMC14: MMSPRITE asks...
Question: Is it true that Lexie and Lynn are sisters but don't know it yet
ReneeJnes: I think that would be too much for the viewers to take. I would love to have Lynn get interested in Abe, and Lexie have to put her in to her place.
AOLiveMC14: Renee, LeeSex580 wants to ask...
Question: Is life on the set of a soap really as hard as they say it is? If so why do it? Lee from Denver.
ReneeJnes: Oh boy :> It's only hard learning to memorize all those lines when you first start doing the show. Your memorization improves the longer you do it. The easier it is to memorize. Also, unless you're working every single day, which the majority of us don't, you get lots of free time to do a lot of stuff. When you work, you work long hours -- 12 hours or so, but you also have lots of days off. For the characters, who are on every single day, they make lots of money. That's what motivates them.
AOLiveMC14: Pavilion1 has this question...
Question: Are you thinking about doing a movie in the next few years?
ReneeJnes: Yes. I would love to. I've been auditioning and I'm reading other scripts. Hopefully, I will be doing at least one film within the next year.
AOLiveMC14: RABBIT43 asks...
Question: Hi, first of all , I want to say you are pretty and a great actress. You and James seem like you have so much fun on camera, how well do you 2 get along off camera, though?
ReneeJnes: We hardly see each other off camera. His dressing room is way on the other set completely. James and Drake have dressing rooms next to each other that are far away from all the other cast members, not because they're snobs, but because that's the way the studio is set up. Unfortunately, I don't get to see him much except for a couple of words on the makeup room or on the set. They generally put me next to him on social events, and his wife Lisa is a wonderful person. And we get to catch up during those times. By social events, I mean award shows.
AOLiveMC14: Raininfir wants to know...
Question: You are such a classic beauty!! What do you do for a daily regime to stay so gorgeous and in such great shape?
ReneeJnes: On days that I'm not working, I roll out of bed and go straight to the gym and work out between 1 hour and 1.5 hours. During the day, I eat lots of fruit and vegetables and grains and fish. I don't eat a lot of junk food. I think that's my secret. But every once in awhile, I will have a bowl of Vanilla Haagen-Daaz ice cream.
AOLiveMC14: DESIREE01 has this question...
Question: Hello Renee, will you be having a good storyline over the summer? Something maybe with the character Celeste?
ReneeJnes: Hmmm...I hope so. There's one thing maybe don't know about Celeste, and that's the fact that she's an excellent singer. I hope they integrate that into the storyline somehow, but I don't know how I'll be involved in it. I can't carry a tune. But again now that Stefano is coming back, I would love to have him hypnotize me and make me an evil person. I hope anything will happen. I'm ready to do it.
AOLiveMC14: DebiOK asks our next question up tonight...
Question: Will we see you more working in the hospital?
ReneeJnes: Well, I'm a doctor now. I've finally advanced my career. I'm no longer a med student, so maybe you will see me working aside Mike Horton, since he seems to be the only doctor in the hospital.
AOLiveMC14: WML926 wants to know...
Question: How long do you plan to stay on "Days of our Lives?"
ReneeJnes: I really love being on "Days of Our Lives." I would love to stay on it even as I'm doing other projects, so I'd love to go away, do a film, come back, work on "Days," work on a film. I'd love to have "DOOL" be a base for me for at least the next 5 years, unless my film really hits and I become a mega-star. Then I'll still come back for cameos.
AOLiveMC14: Rininfir was wondering...
Question: Awhile back during the scene where John almost died doing the magic trick in the "water tank of doom." I noticed when he started breathing again water shot out of his mouth and hit you. Yikes!! What other embarrassing things have happened on the set?
ReneeJnes: LOL. You're very observant! My very first day on the set, I had to go to a get-together at Marlena and Roman's house. This was when Wayne Northrup was still on the show. Abe couldn't go because he was doing the hospital but as I said my good-byes and moved over to leave, I went to get my coat off the coat rack. It got stuck with the other coats and everything fell on the coat. Marlena was talking to Roman and I was in the background and I was trying to hold up this coat. Ally, who saw what I was trying to do to keep the coat rack up, was watching me. When the scene was over, we all burst out laughing.
AOLiveMC14: Renee, LISADRAMA has the next question up...
Question: Hello Renee, I am here with my sister and we both love "DOOL," you are a great actress and hope to see more of you this summer. Who do you hang around with on and off the set? Are any of the cast members good friends of yours?
ReneeJnes: I've been out with Thyme Lewis, who played Jonah. Otherwise, no I don't hang out with anyone else. Also, I've hung out once or twice with Tammy, who played the older Wendy. Otherwise, I hang out with everyone else pretty much on the set, but we don't hang out outside of the set.
AOLiveMC14: MaryF1162 has this to ask...
Question: How do you handle it when the writers throw you a curve - like Stefano being Lexie's father? And will Lexie every show herself to be a true DiMera like Kristen & Peter and all of his other children?
ReneeJnes: I love when the writers hand me a curve like that because I'm an actress and I've studied acting a long time. The better the storyline, I could sink my teeth into the role. I think that it would be great if Stefano had some kind of device that he put in my brain where I'm nice Lexie, but when he pushes a certain button, I become a conniving, manipulative DiMera helping Stefano plot whatever evil plan what he's into. No one knows about this and this personality change happens sporadically. I would love to do something like that.
AOLiveMC14: Raininfir has this next question for Renee...
Question: Do you ever get to pick out or keep any of the gorgeous clothing you wear on "Days?"
ReneeJnes: Everyday when we go into work, the head of wardrobe, Richard, has about 4-6 outfits to choose from to wear that day. So in that sense, I do get to pick out what to wear. He's gone shopping and bought all these outfits for me. As for the clothes, we don't get to keep them but we do get to borrow them.
AOLiveMC14: Pavilion1 has this next question...
Question: Who is your favorite singer?
ReneeJnes: I'd have to say my favorite singer is Whitney Houston.
AOLiveMC14: SkiLo123 asks...
Question: I think you're one of the prettiest actresses on "Days." Why did they decide to drop the Jonah storyline? That could have been interesting, the chemistry between you and the character of Jonah was good. Any big storylines coming up for you?
ReneeJnes: I don't know why they dropped the Jonah storyline. I think that some of the fans had a problem with it and maybe they listened to the fans. They had a problem with Lexie fantasizing. All I can is that I hope a big storyline is coming up. The producers have promised me that something is happening soon, but I don't know when or what.
AOLiveMC14: KrisNShaw has this question...
Question: Do you have any scoops on the other situations on "Days?"
ReneeJnes: No. We only get our scripts 2 weeks in advance and the way things are looking now, not many things are going to be changing.
AOLiveMC14: Raininfir asks...
Question: Being an artist I absolutely loved the portrait of you in the Boyz II Men video "On Bended Knee." Did you get to keep it?
ReneeJnes: Yes I did.
AOLiveMC14: KrisNShaw also asks...
Question: Will Lexie ever leave Abe?
ReneeJnes: I think if Lexie wants a storyline, she should.
AOLiveMC14: Steve2131 was wondering...
Question: How has being on a national show affected your family life?
ReneeJnes: Well, my family hasn't changed but they're constantly having co-workers and friends ask them for pictures of me. Or whenever I go home to visit, people and friends of my family want to come over to meet me. That's okay because my family is down to earth as our their friends, and they get excited about meeting a celebrity for about 5 minutes. But then we have a good time, and they forget that I'm a celebrity.
AOLiveMC14: Salty2556 has this question for you, Renee...
Question: I heard Stefano to try and break up Abe and Lexie. True?
ReneeJnes: I wouldn't put it past him. Although he could learn a lot about the police department by making me his ally and keeping Abe and I together. But then how much does the Salem PD have to hide.
AOLiveMC14: MAMTLM asks...
Question: Renee: Do you ever miss your character being a cop, and being able to work side by side with Abe and John? Also, if John was such an outstanding cop, why can he not tell the difference between Susan and Kristen?
ReneeJnes: <LOL!> No. I don't miss being a cop, mainly because it limited me. If I wasn't arresting some one, I didn't have much to do. Whenever we had fighting scenes when I was arresting someone, I committed to them but I never felt comfortable during the fighting scenes. As for the 2nd question, John is dumb. When he left the police force, he lost all his brain cells.
AOLiveMC14: DebiOK wonders...
Question: Can you tell us if Roman will return?
ReneeJnes: Roman is working on a new soap opera right now which is a spin off of "General Hospital." Roman, meaning Wayne Northrup.
AOLiveMC14: Our next question tonight comes from LGoossen...
Question: What would you do for a living if you could not be an actress?
ReneeJnes: I'd be a psychologist.
AOLiveMC14: DMoreno67 wants to know...
Question: Okay Renee - What are the men of "Days" really like??
ReneeJnes: Drake Hogestyn (John) is the greatest storyteller. He'll tell you stories until they're coming out of your ears. He's the one who's constantly reprimanded by the stage manager because he won't shut up. Lucas is the big prankster. He's always pulling pranks and telling jokes and making you laugh. Austin is the sweetest guy and the most sensitive guy you'd ever want to meet. Not affected by his looks at all. Bo is very nice, quiet and shy. Abe is the kind of guy that you'd go to with your problems. He's a fantastic listener and will laugh at all your jokes. Roark, who plays Mike Horton, is the consummate family man. They're all hunks.
AOLiveMC14: RBsivad asks this next question...
Question: Are you married in real life?
ReneeJnes: Ivan is a very serious actor. He works very hard to make his character as goofy as he is. He's such a sweetheart. All the guys on the shows are really really nice guys and I wish I could have them all as brothers. As for the marriage question, no.
AOLiveMC14: Sploo1012 wants to know...
Question: Will Lexie have to choose between Stefano, and Abe sometime in the future. I can see this happening. ??
ReneeJnes: So can I. I don't know who she would choose.
AOLiveMC14: Sploo1012 asks...
Question: I was shocked to hear that John Aniston will no longer be on the show! How hard is it to adjust to having people coming and going on the show?
ReneeJnes: You do miss them. You definitely miss having their presence around. Generally, we have a cake and we say good-bye. The whole cast and crew goes onstage and says good-bye to that person. It makes you not take your job for granted because you don't know how long you'll be there.
AOLiveMC14: LISADRAMA asks...
Question: Renee, do you watch, any other soap operas besides "DOOL," and if so, which ones do you watch?
ReneeJnes: I have friends on "Y&R." Tonya Williams who plays Olivia, and Victoria Rowell who plays Dru. I tune in to watch what they're doing and I'll call them to tell them they're great. I flip around to see what other shows are doing. I will watch Another World because it does come on before COOL. Sorry. "DOOL (Days of Our Lives)."
AOLiveMC14: Garfunkel asks this next question...
Question: I think that your doing a great job, are Carrie and Mike Horton going to be together????
ReneeJnes: I think so. I think they are. I know just about as much as you know, but there is definitely chemistry there between them.
AOLiveMC14: Pavilion1 has this to ask...
Question: Have you ever thought about a career in singing?
ReneeJnes: I've done a TV movie and a TV pilot where I had to sing. Each time I got onstage and gave it my all. Each time, they hired a professional singer come in and loop me. So...no :>
AOLiveMC14: GOPITT199 wants to know...
Question: I heard Kristin was leaving the show. How soon will it be?
ReneeJnes: As far as I know, she just resigned another contract so I don't think she's leaving soon. I think she's having too much fun playing Susan.
AOLiveMC14: KSCarr01 asks...
Question: Do you ever get burned out playing the same role day in and day out?
ReneeJnes: I guess I'm not burned out because I'm not there day in and day out. This year, I've only worked about 12 days. So, it's always new whenever I got back on the set. It's refreshing.
AOLiveMC14: We have time for one last question from our audience. BLUR145 asks tonight's last question...
Question: What do you think about all of the supernatural things that have been on the show?
ReneeJnes: I'm just happy that I wasn't involved in those storylines. That kind of stuff frightens me. I don't believe in playing around with that kind of stuff, so I'm glad that that's over.
AOLiveMC14: Thank you for joining us tonight, RENEE JONES! It was great having you here!
ReneeJnes: I've had a great time doing this and if there's anyone who would like to see more of Lexie on the show, write to Ken Corday or Tom Langan at DOOL, 3000 West Alameda Ave, Burbank, CA 91523 or visit the website at www.spe.sony.com/Pictures/ and let the producers know. I would appreciate it very much. And thanks for all the good questions! It was fun.
AOLiveMC14: Thank you also to our wonderful audience tonight! You had some great questions! That's all for now, folks! Good night everyone!
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Thanks to Dana Dietz for sending me this chat.