http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,546720,00.html??test=faces

If you tuned in to the soap "One Life to Live" this week, you may have noticed there's been a change of character. One character in particular.

Actress Patricia Mauceri says she was fired and abruptly replaced for objecting to a gay storyline because of her religious beliefs.

Mauceri played the recurring role of Carlotta Vega on "OLTL" for the last 14 years. But when she objected to how the writers wanted her deeply religious character, a Latina mother, to handle a storyline involving homosexuality, she objected. And for that she claims she was fired.

Mauceri, 59, a devout Christian, told FOX News that character Vega's gay-friendly dialogue was not in line with the character she helped create by drawing on her own faith.

"I did not object to being in a gay storyline. I objected to speaking the truth of what that person, how that person would live and breathe and act in that storyline," she said. "And this goes against everything I am, my belief system, and what I know the character's belief system is aligned to."

Mauceri said she was replaced despite offering changes to the script and hoping for a compromise.

An ABC spokesperson said they were not aware of any such claims by Mauceri, adding such claims "would be frivolous."

When asked why Mauceri is no longer playing Carlotta Vega, the spokesperson said the show does not comment on personnel matters. The scene in question was scheduled to air Friday afternoon.

Mauceri told FOX News she is exploring her legal options. AFTRA, the actors union that represents her, did not respond to a request for comment.

R. Sinclair pointed out why I find this whole thing so funny: she's working (or worked) in a profession overflowing with gays!

And why do we care about your personal beliefs, honey? Why mention that? In terms of her character's "beliefs", OK -- but wasn't she basically relegated to day player at this point? Miss Thing is having the vapors like her character has influence and is the star of the show. She should have been grateful to have had those few lines. If Fox News doesn't pan out (heh!), maybe she'll have to become a real maid (or diner cook?) like her ex-character! The irony.

Edited September 7, 200916 yr by Pine Charles

No, it's a very good thing that you split it, because it's true. Does it make a HUGE difference? No. It's still someone thinking that their belief when it comes to your life actually holds water -- which is pathetic. But it is a difference. She feels that she can love the sinner but hate the sin -- which is cool. It's just her personal beliefs shouldn't dictate what her bosses do with a make-believe character. Carlotta Vega doesn't exist. Let's break it down -- she's nothing but a name on a page with words underneath it. It seems Mauceri got scared that if she said the words Carlotta was supposed to say, whomever, whose opinion(s) she values, might be as dense as some "fans" are and confuse her views with the character's.

She's acting like she's the only Christian in freaking daytime. There's tons of them and it doesn't affect their job.

Look at VI he plays David who does tons of evil things. Infact a few years ago his character agreed and was about to perform an abortion and as far as i know VI didn't cry for a rewrite.

Hey, what can ya do? She got on her high horse and Valentini and Carlivati opened up the doors and let her gallop off into the sunset. People are blaming ABC for using this as an "excuse" to get rid of her. Mauceri was recurring. They needed no excuse to recast if that's what they wanted to do from the start.

Edited September 7, 200916 yr by R Sinclair

This woman reminds me of those pharmacists who do not want to fill out prescriptions to birth control because of their religious beliefs. Oh well, like I always say, do and say what you want, just be sure that you can deal with the consequences. She had a dispute with the writers who recast the role of Carlotta. I hope that PM has another source of income to support herself. Maybe her new FOX right wing supporters will find her a job. Pat Robertson University can hire her to teach acting.

Hey, what can ya do? She got on her high horse and Valentini and Carlivati opened up the doors and let her gallop off into the sunset. People are blaming ABC for using this as an "excuse" to get rid of her. Mauceri was recurring. They needed no excuse to recast if that's what they wanted to do from the start.

The character is hardly ever seen and the writers give her a few days work and she wants to rewrite the whole thing.

I think if she had asked not to be part of the story TTPB may have just cut the scenes but she wanted to rewrtie the story and we have noway to know what was said on both sides and if it got nasty or not.

Mauceri told FOX News she is exploring her legal options.

She should talk to Michael Nader about that.

She should talk to Michael Nader about that.

At least Michael Nader was on contract. This one's a glorified day player.

At least Michael Nader was on contract. This one's a glorified day player.

Hehe! True!

Has anyone other than the actress who played Reese on GH ever won a lawsuit agianst a daytime soap?

I know she settled , but she still got paid so i call that a win.

I don't understand what grounds she has to pursue "legal options." She was recurring, the show had it within their rights to recast her whenever they wanted. Her personal beliefs have nothing to do with what is written for a fictional character on a soap. She's pretty lame.

Sorry, but after seeing today’s episode, I think Mauceri was totally on point.  NuCarlotta’s reaction to seeing that book—and her staunch eagerness to accept Cristian being gay—did not ring true to the character. That wasn’t Carlotta at all. She came off more like Carlotta’s cooler, more liberal younger sister. Truth of the matter is, Carlotta would have had a much more pessimistic reaction. I don’t know why the writers insisted on writing the scene that way. The whole thing came off very plastic and disingenuous. What made it worse was when Layla remarked that her reaction was conspicuous, and brought up how religious Carlotta is. It’s like the writers were intentionally trying to have her go “against type” and played out all wrong.

It was down right heinous the way the current actress chose to play it, and the dumb ass director was ok with that? There is no way Carlotta would have behaved this way. TIIC are trying to make a statement, but they should not sacrifice characters to do it. If the story is not good and believable, gay or straight, people are not going to watch it. There was not an ounce of believablility in that scene. Not a PM fan, but I agree with her wholeheartedly.

And there is a huge difference between sex before marriage and same sex sex, so PM is absolutely correct here. Glad she didn't do those horrid scenes!

ANDREA

I don't understand what grounds she has to pursue "legal options."

She has none. None at all. If she's looking for payback she'd be better off just walking up to Valentini and kicking him in the nuts. It might not fit in with her newfound faith but I guarantee she'd feel better.

She has none. None at all. If she's looking for payback she'd be better off just walking up to Valentini and kicking him in the nuts. It might not fit in with her newfound faith but I guarantee she'd feel better.

So would I, for that matter! If she did that, maybe I'd support her!

And there is a huge difference between sex before marriage and same sex sex, so PM is absolutely correct here.

What do you mean by that?

What do you mean by that?

I believe it's that poster's roundabout way of saying homosexuality is deplorable, while heterosexuality - in or outside of marriage - is just dandy. If there were another way of taking it, it would have been stated differently. Of course it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out what we can do with such an opinion.