Vanessa Hart

Vanessa Hart
Sherri Saum as Vanessa Hart (1997)
Sunset Beach character
Portrayed by	Sherri Saum
Duration	1997–99
First appearance	January 9, 1997
Last appearance	December 31, 1999
Created by	Robert Guza, Jr.
Introduced by	Gary Tomlin, Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Occupation	Journalist at Sunset Beach Sentinel
Residence	Sunset Beach, California
Parents Lena Hart Robert Hart Siblings none spoken of Spouse Michael Bourne (wed on December 31, 1999)

Vanessa Hart is a fictional character in the American soap opera Sunset Beach, portrayed by American actress Sherri Saum during the show's entire run.

A young journalist named Vanessa entered the world of Sunset Beach when Michael Bourne saved her from death, and then later saved her from a robber. Vanessa had a lot of trouble due to an article she was writing, trying to save RaShonda and Jaleen Muhammad from Jo-Jo Muhammad, who turned out to be Michael's friend. Vanessa found herself hiding from them, and Michael was always there to save her. When the situation had resolved itself, Vanessa decided to leave to Hong Kong briefly, but promised to keep their love alive. Days later, Vanessa returned home, but a chance for love with Michael was a bit challenged. Michael's friend from past, Virginia Harrison, was in love with Michael and she often used her son Jimmy Harrison to get what she wanted. Virginia did everything she could to break up the happy couple. It was later revealed that Michael had accidentally murdered Virginia's husband.

It came to Vanessa's attention that Virginia was more than meets the eye. She was trying to get attention, and Vanessa didn't like it. When Vanessa and Michael left for a romantic weekend getaway in a cabin, Virginia drove to the cabin and set it on fire. Vanessa later realized that Virginia was the one who did it, but Michael didn't believe her. Virginia was jealous because Vanessa started snooping into her life. Virginia researched Vanessa's past and realized that Vanessa had a mother that suffered from Martin's Syndrome, and she decided to use it to her advantage.

She used help from Mrs. Moreau to get a potion that could make Vanessa think she got the syndrome too. Vanessa was frightened and decided to leave Sunset Beach to avoid Michael. Michael was in despair when Vanessa left. Meanwhile, Vanessa was hiding at Tyus Robinson's place. Tyus fell in love with Vanessa, but she didn't have the same feelings for him. Tyus was working on a cure for Vanessa, and everyone was surprised when Vanessa's illness disappeared. Vanessa and Michael finally reunited, but their happiness didn't last long. Virginia made another plot, a sick and crazy plan.