Y&R Joan Van Ark or Judith Chapman as Gloria

[Andrew]

Who do you prefer as Gloria on Y&R.

I Prefer Judith Chapman, the simple reason is because Joan Van Ark is one of the worst actresses on any

soap, her work on Dallas was horrible bad.

Who do you all prefer as Gloria?.......

[rangethatrover]

REALLY????

I totally preferred Joan Van Ark (despite her awful plastic alien looks).

I actually liked her alot on Knots Landing.

I read something from someone who worked with her saying that she was neurotic as they come- a true hot mess. But a really nice one.

[sudz4u]

Joan Van Ark. As ORIGINALLY conceived, she made more sense as a woman who would allow her son to be horribly abused. Judith Chapman comes across as way too smart and way too strong to have allowed Kevin to be locked in a closet.

[dm.]

Chapman. She's just amazing in the role. But she should tone down that crazy look she has when she kisses someone.

[Sylph]

Yes, but she should be given another role to showcase a different type of talent she has. This one is devouring her.

[EastMA2]

I prefer Judith Chapman in the role. But it would have been interesting had van Ark remained in the role how she would work out with Ted Shackelford on Y&R. A Val and Gary redux.

[psychofan]

Chapman, hands down. I could never imagine Joan Van Ark playing the character as she is now. Judith is AMAZING in the role and makes her such a must-see character!

[Helena]

That "crazy" look is her only look, imo. She's got the crazy eyes and has had them for as long as I can remember, going all the way back to DAYS. It's one of the many reasons I can't watch her.

I preferred Joan in the role. She made the character more sympathetic. I have no sympathy whatsoever for Chapman's Gloria.

[MarkH]

I watched Knots for Joan...but her Gloria didn't grab me. Some of it was the writing (hired gigolos would end up accepting non-payment for the option to have sex with Glo INSTEAD? GMAFB). Some of it was Van Ark's new look (shallow of me, I know). I will grant that--especially early--Van Ark seemed strangely detached from her boys emotionally...which worked with the neglectful backstory.

I start by noting that Michael Bruno said on an Emmy-nomination-timed podcast that at one point GL wanted to hire a "Channel Stopper"...a man so beautiful you rested on the show when flipping channels. (Long story...the role ended up going to Ricky Paull Goldin instead...but he's a channel stopper IMO too). Anyway, Judith was an original channel stopper.

That is LITERALLY how I "met" her. Mom was a religious devotee of Ryan's Hope (it was on while we made lunch), but I didn't pay it a lot of mind. Until I walked in the room and SAW Charlotte. Those eyes--I think the TV was even black and white--drew me in and held me. (In fact, that inspired the montage at bottom).

I still think she is one of the most unconventionally gorgeous creatures ever.

In the process, her Gloria became richer and therefore more vexing...in a good way...she drew me in. With her immense beauty and sophistication-despite-poverty, I INSTANTLY understood why John might shuck it all to be with her. She still had moments of ARCH selfishness and recklessness (asking Kevin to commit crimes for her; face cream) that helped me connect her with her selfish/neglectful/abusive backstory. This Gloria had warmth with her boys...but it always had a manipulative (even seductive...yes, she goes there!) flavor to it. I totally buy her as this damaged, selfish black widow...so charming and attractive that she sucks men (even her sons) in time and time again. I mean my heart TOTALLY melted for her when Jeffrey was so vile to her...even though she flipped and went back to him a week later.

The fact that Gloria sucks me in that way helps me understand why she is so powerful as a character.

I guarantee you, Joan Van Ark had none of those capabilities :-). I'm just not that into her .

I've struggled to understand why there is SUCH hatred toward her. I think viewers have just not yet looked closely at the screen and surrendered to those eyes. (Thumbnails link to source sites/photos).

[Queen]

Joan Van Ark. As Gloria, she was all charm and humor. Gloria was a funny, trashy gold digger with good intentions. She was a woman who didn't make good choices but had the spirit of a fighter. She was the underdog like her sons Michael and Kevin. I could root for her even when as being less than forthcoming.

With Judith Chapman in the role, well...I can see why Tom Fisher was such a bastard. I felt sorry for him.

[YRBB]

Joan a bad actress?

[detroitpiston]

LOL ITA!

[crc]

JVA made me LOVE Gloria ... Chapman made me want to claw my eyes out!!!

I prefer the fierceness, the realness, the multi-textured, layered-ness of RealGloria (the JVAGloria/Kevin scenes were just awesome and I HATED Kevin back then) over the cartoonish nightmare of FauxGloria. Chapman took over and threw away every all of the history and relationship defining stuff that JVA brought to the role. Granted, she has every right to bring her own to the role, but I FLOVED how JVA played her scenes with Kevin one way and with Michael different ... because, surprise, surprise, they had two totally different relationships over the years. And few actors bring so much to a role as she did with Gloria. I think she went totally METHOD in this role.

Chapman doesn't know how to switch gears or create character or demonstrate the differences between any relationship she has on-screen. She just sucks up all of the air and plays off of EVERYBODY like a money grubbing, bugged-eyed witch!

[DaytimeFan]

That's exactly how I feel! You said it perfectly. JVA all the way.

[y&r_fan]

Chapman - no contest! She is just brilliant.

Van Ark may have been a fine actress, but her appearance was WAY too distracting.