3 hours ago, StevieM said:

 

I don't think I would agree with that.  I think Lisa Rinna is generally thought of as the definitive Billy Reed.  

 

I would argue that Susan Flannery, who was Laura on DAYS and Stephanie on B&B, is the best example.  She was the biggest star on both shows for many years. 

 

I don't think any other actor can say that.  The closest other example would be Robin Strasser as Rachel on AW and Dorian on OLTL.  But I don't think either of her character's were quite at the same level as Flannery's.  

 

 

 

I would 100% consider LR the definitive Billie Reed, although I am sure others would disagree.  

 

SF and RS are great examples of this thread.  I was just thinking ED because Kristen was so polarizing on Days and took a lame character into something so much more.  I would argue Laura/Stephanie and Rachel/Dorian were always meant to be leads, but Eileen propelled both her roles into a more leading capacity than what was first imagined.  But again, all of this is highly debatable and I don't think there are wrong answers, just different perceptions.

16 hours ago, j swift said:

I think there is an interesting new topic of discussion of actors who were cast because they were muses for certain writers or producers (i.e. Kevin McClatchy)

That would be interesting.  We know from Tracey Bregman that Wes Kinney played a huge part in her development as an actress and getting the job on Y&R as Lauren.  Certainly hard to not think Bill Bell when you talk about Flannery, as Laura and as Stephanie.  Tons of FOJ’s out there!

6 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I would 100% consider LR the definitive Billie Reed, although I am sure others would disagree.

 

I'm not one of 'em.  I've always thought LR was/is the definitive Billie.  Her first run, when Billie was written with more emotional layers, was so wonderful to watch.  I wish Billie hadn't regressed so much by the time she'd returned.

19 minutes ago, Khan said:

 

I'm not one of 'em.  I've always thought LR was/is the definitive Billie.  Her first run, when Billie was written with more emotional layers, was so wonderful to watch.  I wish Billie hadn't regressed so much by the time she'd returned.

 

She is what made Billie great.   JP is serviceable, but isn't Billie.  KA was awful.  I am not saying Billie is amazing or anything but Lisa Rinna owns the role to me.

1 hour ago, Khan said:

 

I'm not one of 'em.  I've always thought LR was/is the definitive Billie.  Her first run, when Billie was written with more emotional layers, was so wonderful to watch.  I wish Billie hadn't regressed so much by the time she'd returned.

When Billie first came on the scene she was definitely a complex character and LR was refreshing to watch. I know they couldn't stand each other, but she had great chemistry with RKK. I remember loving the twist when it was revealed that Billie and Austin were Kate's presumed dead children...a great twist!

Lisa Peluso

Wendy (SFT)

Ava (LOV)

I really appreciated LR playing the heartbreak when Gina was revealed as Hope.  When she was still in the role, it was a complex triangle and not just another rehash of Reilly’s normal formula of Good/Good/Bad characters.

 

I still love most of pre-possession Reilly.  Just after that story everything went crazy.

Rinna's Billie was probably my favorite character on the show at the time. I was heartbroken when she left and it was never the same for me. There is no other Billie AFAIC.

Edited October 14, 20205 yr by Vee

On 10/9/2020 at 10:38 PM, Chris B said:

Julie Pinson is another. Of course she was beloved as Eve on Port Charles and then she to many people is the definitive Billie on Days, despite being a recast. 
 

Laura Wright also deserves props for her success at GL and GH which couldn’t be more different. 

 

In addition, JP won at least one Emmy for ATWT as Janet; and LW went into GL well-known for her role as Ally on "Loving"/"The City".

IMO there is no universe in which Julie Pinson is "the definitive Billie on Days". I like Julie, I've liked her since PC but that is in no way true. Fans just liked that there was a capable Billie actress onscreen, they would've taken anyone since Allen was a disaster and Rinna's return stints didn't work.

Edited October 14, 20205 yr by Vee

5 hours ago, carolineg said:

 

I would 100% consider LR the definitive Billie Reed, although I am sure others would disagree.  

 

SF and RS are great examples of this thread.  I was just thinking ED because Kristen was so polarizing on Days and took a lame character into something so much more.  I would argue Laura/Stephanie and Rachel/Dorian were always meant to be leads, but Eileen propelled both her roles into a more leading capacity than what was first imagined.  But again, all of this is highly debatable and I don't think there are wrong answers, just different perceptions.

 

Rachel was not meant to be the lead under Robin Strasser.  She made that role into so much more than it was ever intended to be.  Certainly Agnes Nixon was excited about the character.  She was the forerunner to Erica Kane.  But I don't think Rachel was initially envisioned to go as far as she ultimately did. 

 

I don't know if she was ever what you would call the lead, though.  I think she was comparable to Andrea Evans' Tina Lord Roberts from 1985-1990.  It was a huge part,  but perhaps not the lead.  It's debatable, I guess.

4 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Lisa Peluso

Wendy (SFT)

Ava (LOV)

 

...and Lila (AW) - the only major soap role that she got to originate.

12 hours ago, amybrickwallace said:

 

In addition, JP won at least one Emmy for ATWT as Janet; and LW went into GL well-known for her role as Ally on "Loving"/"The City".

 

I thought we agreed not to mention "Juicy Janet" or Liberty Ciccone on this message board on these Al Gore's Internets.

2 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

I thought we agreed not to mention "Juicy Janet" or Liberty Ciccone on this message board on these Al Gore's Internets.

 

Sorry. 😂😂😂😂😂 I guess you can tell I wasn't much of a viewer of ATWT.

9 minutes ago, amybrickwallace said:

 

Sorry. 😂😂😂😂😂 I guess you can tell I wasn't much of a viewer of ATWT.

 

No offense to Pinson, who I am sure did the best she could but Janet was a horribly written character and Janet and Liberty were superfluous. 

No shade but, in terms of the Emmy, some years are more competitive than others.