Article: The 15 Most Memorable Female Soap Opera Characters Ever

[LoyaltoAMC]

I've never been a huge fan of Lucci or "Erica," but there's no denying that Erica should top a list of the most memorable female soap characters of all time. I'm not sure I'd even include Lesley Webber in a list of GH's 15 most memorable characters, and I watched GH religiously from 1978-1986. Maybe that's a testament to Denise's talent. She's always been more low-key and natural, and less flamboyant than your typical soap actress, so I can see how Lesley might fly below the radar in a list of top characters.

[Mr. Vixen]

Top 15 GH characters?

Audrey Hardy

Jessie Brewer

Monica Quartermaine

Lesley Webber

Bobbie Spencer

Tracy Quartermaine

Lucy Coe

Amy Vining

Gail Baldwin

Felicia Jones

Robin Scorpio

Anna DeVane

Holly Scorpio

Laura Webber

Heather Webber

[LoyaltoAMC]

I like your list, except that I'd probably swap out Amy, Gail, and Helena, for Carly, Brenda, and Felicia. Not a fan of what GH has become, but Carly and Brenda, esp. Brenda, are now kind of iconic. Felicia was the show's leading lady for several years.

[Mr. Vixen]

Oh my god I forgot about Felicia! I would swap Helena for Felicia!

I would have included Carly, but she was only great for about 2 years...The rest of the ladies had real impact.

And while Brenda was great, I don't consider her extremely important. And she has contributed a lot to what the show has become.

[Cheap21]

yes Sally would be. Heck Sheila would be more memorable than both of them.

[Mr. Vixen]

I switched out Helena for Felicia. I can't BELIEVE I forgot Felicia. She's one of my favorite.

[Vizion]

Oh you know I agree with you..but you never know with these lists.

As for that list of the top 15 female characters from GH....scrolls through list....*sees Lucy Coe*....exits happily!

[Mr. Vixen]

You can't have a list of famous GH ladies without Lucy!

Honorable mentions:

Helena Cassadine

Caroline Benson

Brenda Barrett

Tiffany Hill

Skye Chandler Quartermaine

[Cheap21]

Skye is memorable for AMC stint. She was highly underutilized on GH. She only had like a year and a half worth of material and then drifted to the background, being wasted till she left.

[Mr. Vixen]

She had good material from 01-03. and again in 06.

but in general, she was underused. still one of my favorites though. loved her when she was at her bitchiest.

[LoyaltoAMC]

My list of AMC's 15 most memorable female characters (in order of appearance):

Erica Kane

Phoebe Tyler

Ruth Martin

Tara Martin

Myrtle Fargate

Brooke English

Opal Gardner

Jenny Gardner

Liza Colby

Angie Hubbard

Natalie Hunter

Bianca Montgomery

Dixie Cooney

Kendall Hart

Greenlee Smythe

Honorable mentions:

Daisy Cortlandt

Donna Beck

Mona Kane

Ellen Shepherd

Nina Cortlandt

Cecily Davidson

Janet Green

[All My Shadows]

I would say Nina before Liza or Natalie, but that's just me...

[Khan]

Bearing in mind that no list is perfect...

Here's mine:

15. Raven Alexander (THE EDGE OF NIGHT)

14. Amy Ames (THE SECRET STORM)

13. Angelique (DARK SHADOWS)

12. Tracy Quartermaine (GH)

11. Reva Shayne Lewis (GUIDING LIGHT)

10. Jill Foster (Y&R)

09. Karen Wolek (OLTL)

08. Bert Bauer (GUIDING LIGHT)

06. Vanessa Dale (LOVE OF LIFE) / Joanne Gardner (SEARCH FOR TOMORROW)*

05. Julie Williams (DAYS)

03. Iris & Rachel Cory (ANOTHER WORLD / TEXAS)*

02. Lisa (AS THE WORLD TURNS)

01. Erica Kane (AMC)

* tie

[teplin]

I stopped watching GH after the show wrote off Lesley, that's how much I love Denise Alexander. She's why I started watching GH in the first place, and was fortunate to see Luke & Laura from the beginning. But putting her at #1 (or even in the Top 10) is odd. Besides, Susan Martin (Days) was really her signature role.

LoyaltoAMC, I'm pretty much in agreement with your list.

[DRW50]

Apparently there were even protests outside the studio after she was killed off.