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Who is the greatest soap star of all time?

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  • Member

I never heard of Mary Stuart, either... until I did research on various soaps a few years back; she was the matriarch of her show.

But, yes, I doubt the average person would recognize her name. Star? No. Actress? I'm not sure, as I haven't seen much of her work.

I think there's some confusion whether the OP is asking the top star or top actress. There's a definite difference between the two.

I doubt the average person knows who Helen Hayes, the First Lady of the Theatre, is.

Stuart's the First Lady. Lucci's the Star. And Actress? It might be a tie between Elliot, McKinsey, and Slezak.

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  • Member

I've often wondered who got the closest to being like Susan Lucci in the sense that they are a soap "star."

I actually think Andrea Evans had a legitimate shot of becoming one over time during her second stint as Tina on OLTL, but obviously the situation with her stalker kept that from happening. Do any of you think it could have happened to her if not for that?

And if not, who else came the closest/could have?

  • Member

No.

For one thing, Lucci marketed herself as a brand outside of daytime (while remaining true to her core audience of daytime viewers), in part thanks to her losing steak at the Daytime Emmy's. Because of that notoriety, she was able to do TV movies, sponsorship deals, host SNL, launch her own cosmetic empire via HSN, etc.

In many ways, her quest for that once elusive Daytime Emmy cemented her pop culture status and made her more than just a soap/daytime star. It was probably the best thing that happened to her career in the long-run.

Edited by Y&RWorldTurner

  • Member

Jane won a Daytime Emmy in 1981 for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role. Isn't that enough?

Absolutely not, which is why I'm launching this brand new campaign: www.jelliot4mtrushmore.com. ;)

Lisa Brown. I missed her original run as Nola, but I got to see her second run (when they had her stalking Buzz -__-), but from what I've seen of her runs as Nola and Iva, she has the goods.

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  • Member

I doubt the average person knows who Helen Hayes, the First Lady of the Theatre, is.

Stuart's the First Lady. Lucci's the Star. And Actress? It might be a tie between Elliot, McKinsey, and Slezak.

In D.C., the local version of the Tony Awards is the Helen Hayes Awards (HH was a D.C. native).

I pretty much agree with your second line. Ruth Warrick said that Susan Lucci's stardom pales in comparison to Rosemary Prinz's in her day. It's all relative, of course. It was a different time when there were fewer programs to watch and thus fewer stars to be devoted to. As well as the fact that characters/actors were still sort of seen as "one" and the audience felt a greater intimacy with them. The fans were truly, well, fanatical when it came to their favorites.

  • Member

No.

For one thing, Lucci marketed herself as a brand outside of daytime (while remaining true to her core audience of daytime viewers), in part thanks to her losing steak at the Daytime Emmy's. Because of that notoriety, she was able to do TV movies, sponsorship deals, host SNL, launch her own cosmetic empire via HSN, etc.

In many ways, her quest for that once elusive Daytime Emmy cemented her pop culture status and made her more than just a soap/daytime star. It was probably the best thing that happened to her career in the long-run.

True. But the Emmy losing streak wouldn't have made news had Erica Kane not been one helluva fun, interesting, OTT character that the audience ate up. Lisa, Rachel, Erica, Alexis, soap bad girls are always fan favorites and Erica was the creme de la creme in daytime. She got the biggest, splashiest stories on a beloved show. She got Agnes Nixon.

Edited by SFK

  • Member

Jane won a Daytime Emmy in 1981 for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role. Isn't that enough?

You're joking right?

Absolutely not, which is why I'm launching this brand new campaign: www.jelliot4mtrushmore.com. wink.png

Thank God!!!!!

  • Member

Half joking, but to be fair, it's not like Guza or Carlivati have really given Jane much to sink her teeth into, IMO.

Edited by Y&RWorldTurner

  • Member

Half joking, but to be fair, it's not like Guza or Carlivati have really given Jane much to sink her teeth into, IMO.

Tru Dat..

But she still does/did,over amazing with what she has. She's very resourceful on and off-screen. You gotta give her props

Edited by partyperson25

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