Daytime’s Best Criers: Actors Who Can Turn on the Waterworks

[amybrickwallace]

Judi Evans, for sure.

[Titus Andronicus]

Patsy Pease

[juppiter]

Definitely Lesli Kay... MY DOTTER!

[All My Shadows]

Heather Tom! I'll never forget a scene on OLTL that led to commercial with a close up of Kelly crying hysterically with snot, sweat, spit, etc. It was disgusting.

[carolineg]

Say what you will about Deidre Hall's acting, but that woman can cry on cue like no other.

 

Tamara Braun was always a good crier.  Both characters she played on GH were crying all the time lol.

[Queen]

Sarah Joy Brown. She knew exactly how to weaponize those tears as Carly, Julia and Claudia.

[Faulkner]

Forgot Beth Maitland!

 

And Debbi Morgan 

[DRW50]

It was put into use more post-daytime, but Jensen Ackles is a superb crier. 

[BetterForgotten]

I will say that one of Sharon Case’s strengths has been tears as well.

[DaytimeFan]

 

Felicia trying to call 911 in uncontrollable tears at a phone booth because she's too drunk to drive is bone chilling:

 

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[vetsoapfan]

For loooooong-time (i.e. ancient, LOL) soap viewers, Jacqueline Courtney owns this thread. 

 

Also, Denise Alexander (particularly on Days) and Judith Light.

[Limenade]

Colleen Zenk (ATWT - Barbara) cries easily and quite naturally.

 

 

I don't watch Days enough, but I remember vividly an '80s interview of Tracey Bregman (Y&R - Lauren) where she gushed about being mentored by Diedre when she was Donna on Days (pre-Y&R).  Apparently she heard from Diedre that there is a muscle in the back of the neck that once you're trained to control it, you could cry on cue.  I know next to nothing about acting, but that just sounded so unusual and unbelievable  - and has stayed with me to this day.

[detroitpiston]

Jonathan Jackson, especially in his return run.

 

Allison Sweeney owns the worst list. Never a tear in sight

[titan1978]

I have never really enjoyed Linda Dano as an actress.

Alison Sweeney is for sure a face scrunched up and not a tear to be see kind of soap crier.  The show should write to her talents, and stop giving her highly  emotional material.

 

I remember once on GH, I think it was Serena’s birthday, or Scotty had sent Lucy a photo or video of her, and she was just sobbing.  Tears, red face, snot, the works.  I had always liked Lucy’s antics and thought she was a capable actress.  But I was blown away by those scenes.  I really appreciated GH for letting us see the depths of Lucy without taking away the parts of her that were fun to watch.

[Gray Bunny]

Deidre Hall can really shine when given the material. These days, all these dime store budget villains John & Marlena are encountering couldn't muster up tears of fear on anyone. 

 

Sweeney, Alfonso (except when Zach died) and Susan Seaforth-Hayes, as much as I love them all, usually resort to dry heaving. Think: when everyone was "dying" in 2004 and all their dry tears in reaction. Oy.