not sure if this is a repost, sorry if it is.

i'm watching the 20th annual daytime emmy awards on youtube and it got me to thinking of what a close-knit community the soap actors share. are there any stories of soap fans that one day got to work on their favorite (or any) soap? or veterans that had been soap fans in the early days or became fans after they started working in the industry? thought there might some interesting stories to share.

Susan Lucci has said before - and wrote in her book as well - that she grew up watching soap operas with her mother and loved them.

According to an SOD article I read a long time ago, Julia Barr (ex-Brooke, AMC) used to watch AS THE WORLD TURNS.

I remember that when Kirsten Storms & Farrah Fath were on DAYS, they were basically GH fangurls. Actually, Sonny & Jason fangurls. Eventually, Storms went on GH and was starstruck her first few weeks on the show. I remember her saying that she had told Farrah about meeting Jason, Sonny, Luke, et all each day as she met them in the beginning.

Whatever her name is from GH, the one who plays Olivia. I only know this because she won't shut up about it.

Kim Zimmer was a GL fan before and during her run.

Alison Sweeney was a big DAYS fan before she joined (she also played Kayla as a child in the late 80's in a flashback)

Robert S. Woods used to watch Guiding Light, he mentioned liking Lenore Karsdorf

Crystal Chappell used to watch the whole ABC line-up in the early 80s.

I know several GHers were fans of the show before they joined. Kristina Wagner, John J. York and Vanessa Marcil among others.

Maura West was a huge fan of ATWT growing up. They said that when she won her first emmy.

I remember reading an interview around the time that Martha Byrne was firing and her stating that she loves Young and the Restless.

If I am not mistaken, Hillary B. Smith said in an interview with WLS that she watched The Doctors growing up before joining the show. Ellen Dolan said something similar about her growing up watching ATWT & GL with her mom, but I can't remember where she stated that.

Oh and Laura Wright said on the Soapography that she use to watch Loving when she worked at a gas station (I think), which is why she was so excited when she landed a role on the show.

Kat Hickland said she was a soap fan too, which is why she wanted to act on soaps when she grew up. She said that on her Soapography as well. She didn't state which soaps she watched though.

Edited May 1, 201213 yr by brandonfluellen

Laura Wright watched the whole ABC lineup and geeked out when she auditioned for Loving and got fan pictures/autographs with the performers even before she got the role.

Liz Keifer was a GL fan years before she played Blake, and continued to watch the show while other other soaps.

Alison Sweeney was a big DAYS fan before she joined (she also played Kayla as a child in the late 80's in a flashback)

It was Adrienne.

Jeanne Cooper loved GL so much she was on the finale.

Laura Wright loved the ABC lineup back in the day.

Lisa LoCicero said she was a HUGE GH fan as a little girl, and wanted nothing more than to meet Jackie Zeman. (funny that they semi-shared a scene years later).

Jackie Zeman said she used to watch soaps with her mom, though I can't remember which ones.

Martha Madison was a DAYS fan before ending up on the show.

I know several GHers were fans of the show before they joined. Kristina Wagner, John J. York and Vanessa Marcil among others.

Didn't Vanessa also watch DAYS? Or am I confusing her with someone else?