Erika Slezak interview: One Life to Live

[BetterForgotten]

Do research and see that she have very little credited to her name on IMBD? Let's not act like these casting people give 2 f.ucks that she spent almost 50 years on a soap.

They have no reason to cast her when they can cast someone with a more reputable name in primetime or Broadway. Why cast Slezak as the token grandma when you can get Elaine Stritch, Betty White, or Cloris Leachman (Erika is younger than them, but you get what I'm saying) or someone with a varied resume in said field? Not saying she sucks or is unemployable, but it's the way the industry works. More power to her for trying, but I am not surprised she hasn't had much success.

[Juliajms]

Me either. She probably wants too much money (not that I blame her), but I wish it would change. I would love to see her again on one of the soaps.

[John]

She is an Actress and a damn good one. Why wouldnt these people want to hire her. As for TV she did 41 years on a daytime soap which means she can memorize and recite 50-100 pages of dialogue daily. Lets see prme time is like 7-10 pages and film is even less. ES is someone who comes to the set prepared and doesnt bitch like a DIVA but she isnt given a chance . Producers & directors want actors wh are prepared, classy and ready to work. Well that is Erika Slezak.

[Vee]

Can you all not?

[John]

I dont know if I think she wants all this money. Erika didnt work after OLTL left ABC til the PP reboot and that paid less than ABC. I feel she just wants the right role but some producers/directors think Soaps mean no talent. Its their loss. Not Erika's

[BetterForgotten]

More like nothing.

Sorry, I can't resist...

[YRBB]

LOL Why would she be brought on as Joanna or Dina when, as far as I know, the actors are still around and capable to resume their parts? Wouldn't this just be more useless recasting with ABC actors?

[John]

Well I think ES would do both parts well and Im saying if they want the roles back more permanet. SSH I believe perfers Days and Im not sure if Marla Adams is retired or not

[All My Shadows]

I think she'd be good on one of those quaint Hallmark Channel original series.

[John]

Yeah that could be a great fit also

[Mr. Vixen]

I'm surprised she hasn't turned up on the Bay or one of those web soaps.

[Dale]

I miss Erika, too. Here's her first Top 10 appearance in the Daytime TV Reader's poll from the February 1973 issue:

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[SFK]

I want her down here in D.C. at Arena, or at Shakespeare, I'm sure Michael Kahn would enjoy directing her. She's got the training.

[John]

What about Erika as Sandy Horton On DOOL

[ellabelle]

The reality is that acting is a really tough business, and there are a lot of actors who leave daytime when a show is cancelled or their contract ends, and they don't really work on TV again because the jobs just aren't there anymore.

Yes, it's great that daytime actors can learn a whole lot of dialogue really quickly... but not everyone considers that an asset. Who cares how fast you can memorize 100 pages of dialogue when it comes to theater? You do the same play every night. I remember a soap cast member going on a few years ago about how great daytime actors were because of how fast they could memorize and get it done in one take... and this was a person who frankly (IMHO) needed more time to improve performance and get rid of some bad habits likely picked up from years of being in daytime.

I could definitely see ES in some TV movies on Lifetime or Hallmark or the like, and I think she could do theater work if the right role was available. She sounds like she isn't ready to retire, so I hope something comes along for her.