Amanda was a deceitful hypocrite early on

[WalnutGirl]

As a kid, I recall her emotional issues since Lucille never wanted her to grow up. But despite her sweet, naive piano prodigy demeanor, she was a scheming vixen. She broke up Eve's marriage, fooled around with Ross, slept with her mom's hubby, then years later tried to ruin Ross's marriage to Blake. In addition, she later became a madam. Matt once worked for her as an escort. Didn't she have an ex husband when she came on the scene? Boy I am going way back!!!!!!!

[jward1108]

You aren't wrong. However, some how the actress always made me feel sorry for her, and kind of want her to come out on top. When she came back as a different actress, I had trouble accepting her as Amanda. It seemed a totally different personality. However, I am watching episodes from 1996 and 1997 right now, and I'm much more open to her interpretation of Amanda's character. Perhaps it is because she always was a "scheming vixen" even when I didn't want to see it. Thanks for the post, WalnutGirl!

[GuidingLite]

In my memory, which of course can be faulty, Ben didn't want to become physically intimate with Amanda while he was married to Eve - he simply wanted to help draw her out of her shell and out from under the influence of her domineering mother....and before anything happened between them Ben and Eve's marriage was already very strained....and Diane Ballard was the one responsible for the final blow to that marriage.

Ross wanted Amanda for himself, but eventually confessed to her that he had only wanted her for her money. Eve and Ben did reconcile and leave town together in the end....but Amanda did have an affair with Mark Evans, her mother's second husband....although he died later on.

Amanda's return to Springfield was when her character DRASTICALLY changed...she openly pursued Ross, who had changed as well and only had eyes for Blake by then. Amanda's background as 'The Hollywood Madam' came to light and was used against her, and it was revealed that Brandon Spaulding, not Alan, was her father....

Amanda may not have been completely innocent at first, but until she returned to Springfield in the 1990s, she wasn't really THAT bad a person.....she did love Ben, and was seduced by Mark Evans, but Ross was far more of an opportunist than Amanda was back when he first came to town....