MELROSE PLACE
     Sofer's New PLACE: Two years after quitting GENERAL HOSPITAL (where she played Lois), Rena Sofer's strategy has paid off - she reported to MP on August 10. "I had no strategy when I left GENERAL HOSPITAL," disputes the actress. "My 'strategy' was to be a mom. All of the things I have done, I was offered without having to audition - except SEINFELD, which was one meeting with Jerry [Seinfeld] and the producers. That's just how it was."
     In addition to SEINFELD (where she played a representative from the New York tourism board who caught George's eye) - Sofer filmed episodes of the sitcoms CAROLINE IN THE CITY and TWO GUYS, A GIRL AND A PIZZA PLACE. "They say that babies bring good luck, and my baby brought me lots of career luck," beams Sofer. "I worked every two or three months. [Producers] knew my daughter had to be with me, and that she came first. It helped that they were so supportive." Rosabel Rosalind Kurth (daddy is GH's Wallace Kurth, who plays Ned) turns 2 in September, so now is a good time for Sofer to go back to work. "It's perfect timing," she agrees. "I'm happy to have a nighttime job."
     Meanwhile, Sofer's new castmate Heather Locklear (Amanda) told OPRAH that things are improving after the birth of her daughter last October. "My hormones are getting back to normal," confided Locklear. "[After the birth], I didn't feel like myself. I figure when I'm yelling at my husband in the middle of the night - 'No! You don't know what it's like' - it must be my hormones. Because I'm not normally like that."