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Anne Heche Talks Dancing with the Stars, Another World’s Vicky/Marley, Ellen DeGeneres, Standing Up to Discrimination

By Michael Fairman

Published

6 years ago

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Photo: ABC

America is getting reacquainted with Daytime Emmy winner, primetime Emmy and Tony nominee, actress Anne Heche  This talented dynamo has taken to the ballroom dance floor on the new season of Dancing with the Stars with her pro dance partner Keo Motsepe.  Daytime soap fans are thrilled to see her again after her unforgettable performances at twins Vicky and Marley on the beloved Another World early in her professional career.

While everyone had a heart-stopping moment on Monday’s episode of Dancing with the Stars, when Heche and Motsepe found themselves in the bottom two- they were saved by the judges and will dance into next week!

Michael Fairman caught up with Heche prior to Monday’s show from her home in Los Angeles for a new interview feature on The Michael Fairman Channel on  You Tube.  Their conversation covered many points throughout Anne’s career, from her difficult upbringing detailed in her memoir, “Call Me Crazy”, to how she landed on Another World and life on a soap opera, to making the decision to leave, to having her career in film and TV reach a critical impasse when she was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, to life now with her two children and of course, being a celebrity dancer on live TV on this very different season of DWTS.

Here are just a few of the highlights from the chat with Heche below.

Photo: ABC

Speaking on performing on the Covid-19 season of Dancing with the Stars, Anne expressed:”You can’t define a moment that’s getting on to that ballroom floor, and all of a sudden you know you are on live television.  Dancing with the Stars is usually done in front of a live audience and it’s not this year.  So you only have the other dancers as your audience, but stepping out knowing the responsibility that I was taking on for Keo, that I was taking on for myself, and then that click – and you get four clicks – and then you go.  You don’t know if you’re going to be able to do it.  I will go as far as I can go as an artist.  But when judge Derek Hough said ‘You made me smile’, that was my intention.  That’s why I am doing this more than anything.  Yes, I want to learn, but I am here to entertain in a world where there is little entertainment (right now), where it’s live, it’s now, and it’s happening in this moment.  We can’t feel each other, but you can look at my face and know that whatever dedication I have to do this, I will do to the best of my ability.  I have been given the opportunity to perform for an audience who is at home to give one thing – that is the joy with the entertainment that I bring.”

Photo: NBC

Soap opera fans will always recall Anne’s sensational portrayal of twins Vicky and Marley on Another World from 1987-1991.  To this day, it remains one of the all-time greatest in the genre, and at that time, daytime fans knew that Heche would eventually go on to an even greater mainstream career in motion pictures and television and Broadway.  Anne’s road to Bay City and Another World happened the day after she graduated high school (she was discovered there) and landed in New York and at Another World producer and director John Whitesell’s office, where she learned now only was she playing one part, but two!

As Anne recalls it, Whitesell said to her, “What you don’t know is that I auditioned you for two characters because you’re going to play twins.  And by the way … that Bahama Mama T-shirt you wore, and obviously you thought you should repeat it, because you’re wearing it in your screen-test, and you’re wearing it now, get it off! Vicky is the sexy one, so go figure it out!  Your first day you’re going to be in a hot tub and you’re talking to your dad, because you just lost a million dollars.  I’m like, ‘What?’.  Whitesell continued, ‘Yeah, it’s a bubble bath … and don’t make me regret this decision, because I am the only person who wanted to hire you.”  After that moment, Anne took on the dual roles still not knowing much of anything about daytime and she became a fan favorite.  Throughout the interview, Anne recalls her time working with Kale Brown (Ex-Michael Hudson) (Ex-Anna Stuart (Ex- Donna Love), and Tom Eplin (Ex-Jake McKinnon).

Heche had made the decision to exit Another World and was going to quit acting with the intent on going to the Parsons School of Design, when her agent called for her to go out for a role in a film that starred Jessica Lange in which he landed the role.  Noting that the production team at Another World moved all of her scenes to the end of the day so they could tape Vicky and Marley’s departure (so she could go be in the movie), Anne next found herself in a Motel 6 on location in Nebraska when the Daytime Emmys were being handed out in 1991, and she was nominated for her Outstanding Younger Actress.

As Heche recalls, “I’m watching the Emmys and I win and I’m eating a cheeseburger on a bed by myself in a Motel 6 in Nebraska and they say ‘she can’t be here … she is a new movie with Jessica Lange.’  I won an Emmy on a bug-infested bed in a Motel 6 in Nebraska and at that moment said, with a cheeseburger in my mouth, ‘Does this mean I’m supposed to be an actress?” (Laughs)

Photo: JP

Anne’s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres was a highly-publicized from 1997-2000 for their public appearances together which later backfired on Heche’s career.  However, through Heche, the needle moved forward to pave the way for same-sex couples to be able to express their love publicly.  As she reflects on that time in her life, she expressed: “I was told not to go to the premiere of Volcano if I took Ellen, and I looked at the suits standing in front of me, and even Ellen said, ‘You listen to them, Anne.  You can’t go with me.’  This is four days after I met Ellen.  I said, ‘If I had met George Clooney and four days later I was taking him to a premiere we would not be having this conversation.” This is the moment I realized what discrimination feels like. because, even Ellen is sitting here telling me not to go to the premiere.’  I said to Ellen, ‘You just came out Tuesday night on Ellen (referring to DeGeneres then comedy series) and you are sitting here right now and you are telling me to not bring you to my premiere as my date?!’  So, even Ellen did not agree with me. Then it happened again in front of President Clinton. I put my arm around her.  She said, “You’re not allowed, you can’t do that.’  I said, ‘I will not be discriminated against.”

Watch the entire video interview with Anne below.

Then let us know, are you rooting Anne on during her run on DWTS?  What are your favorite Vicky/Marley moments portrayed by Anne on Another World? What do you think about the comments she shared on Ellen DeGeneres and what happened throughout her life and career? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Who is the Another World character/actor pictured with Anne? (not the magazine cover but the publicity shot) He looks familiar, but I can’t place him.

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That’s Russell Todd who played Jamie Frame.

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Russell Todd who played Jamie

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I think he was the second Jamie. Laurence Lau played Jamie 86-90.

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He was actually the fifth “adult” Jamie, if I am remembering correctly. The first three were Tim Holcomb, Richard Bekins, and Stephen Yates (an interesting choice, given that Yates had played a different character on the show in the mid-70s); Lau was the fourth, and Todd was the fifth and final.

Reply

Yes that is Russell Todd, who took over the role of Jamie Frame from Laurence Lau, who was Anne’s first leading man along with Tom Eplin’s Jake McKinnon.

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Anne was fantastic on AW. I still remember and love it. I was heartbroken when she left. I didn’t think they would be able to find someone to fill her shoes, but they did. Still, Anne was my favorite. I think she’s doing a good job on DWTS. She seems so happy.

I also enjoyed Anne in the TV show set in Alaska.

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Anne will always be my favorite soap star. Vicky/Marley was just sensational tv.

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Love this, love Anne. Great interview Michael

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The year was 1987. I was a closeted gay teenager living in the Midwest attending a pretty large high school. The 80s weren’t an easy time for everyone. And that particular year was one of the worst of my childhood besides ’83 losing my Dad. Call me crazy but often soaps were an escape for me, as they are for millions of people, especially during the 80s. Many gay or straight men watched soaps, or at least during summer breaks, etc. Everyone knew who “Bo and Hope” were on DAYS, which my siblings and I grew up on due to our Mom watching since it premiered. Then my best friend, another male teenager who was and still is straight with a wife and four kids, told me I should watch Another World too, which followed my DAYS on NBC. I tuned in early ’87 during the riveting serial killer storyline called the “Sin Stalker” which basically wrapped up in time for Anne Heche’s debut on the show. She was cast in the pivotal roles of twins Victoria and Marley, where she appeared first as Vicky who became the more dominant character than when the Emmy-winning Ellen Wheeler originated the parts. She was Marley first, when the show later added twin sister Vicky who’d been given up at birth. My best friend and I began writing are own fictional soaps throughout high school which we graduated together. And as Anne had the courage to leave the show to pursue other interests in 1991, I mustered the courage to leave my home and enroll in a Fort Lauderdale, FL college in October of ’91. As a matter of fact, some friends and I gathered in my dorm apartment to watch Anne win ‘Best Leading Actress’ on the Soap Opera Digest awards, which aired after she had already left the show, like the Emmy she had also just won for ‘Outstanding Younger Leading Actess’. As for my favorite scenes of her on Another World, that’s easy. It was during the ‘Who Shot Jake’ storyline and Anne had to portray one twin-Vicky-pretending to be the other twin-Marley on the witness stand! To protect her sister who was falling apart, Vicky posed as Marley, fooling everyone in court, even their lawyer Cass. However, when it’s mentioned that Jake indeed raped Marley instead of just attempting to which is what Vicky believed, it was all she could do not to break down herself. As soon as a recess was ordered, Vicky made her way to the ladies’ room to have a moment to herself to process this news. And in total ‘Vicky fashion’ she freaks out, trashes the restroom, tearing a picture off the wall! That was the moment I knew Anne Heche would be a star!

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Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson

Published

3 days ago

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September 30, 2026

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Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart

The September 29 episode of Dancing With the Stars showcased the continued strengths of some couples, but showed the cracks in others, as the 13 remaining duos hit the ballroom dance floor to yacht rock songs in week 3 of the competition.

At the end of the night, the couple with the lowest combined judges’s scores and viewer votes was sent home, and this proved to be a sticking point issue with the voting.

During the results portion at the end of the show, the first five couples who were named safe were: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

They were followed by: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

Taylor Hanson, Britt Stewart

Photo: ABC

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST

The remaining three couples awaiting their fate were: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater, and Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart. The couple sent home was Taylor and Britt.

Taylor and Britt performed a foxtrot to the the Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes” during the night of competition and scored an 18 out of 30 from the judged. While it wasn’t the stand out routine on Yacht Rock night, it certainly wasn’t the worst.

With many expecting Guillermo and Witney to be sent home, when Britt and Taylor’s name was called, Stewart was visibly emotional and upset. After the shocking elimination, several of her pro partners spoke out and rallied around her and Hanson.

DANCING WITH THE STARS PROS SPEAK UP

Pro dancer, Sharna Burgess is hoping that next season, Stewart will make it to the finals. ]It should be noted that Britt is the first Black woman to be in the Dancing with the Stars pro company having joined in season 29 back in 2020, and she has never made it to the finale. Her highest placement was when she came in fifth in season 31 with her now husband, CODA star Daniel Durant.

“Knowing Britt and loving Britt, I just want to see her do a freestyle. I just want to see Britt, next season, get what our fans call a ringer, and we see her get to the end so we can have a Britt freestyle, expressed Burgess to EW.com.

Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong spoke out as being the couple who has spent the most time with Britt and Taylor during competition weeks. “I think Britt is an elite dancer, and an elite pro,” Armstrong continues, explaining that he and Miller were “gutted” when they heard the news. “It’s horrible,” said Armstrong. Miller shared she has chills” over it, and is “processing this elimination.”

Perhaps, Dancing with the Stars pro Jan Ravnik said it best, exclaiming everything is “going to be f—ed from now on” with them gone and more eliminations weekly. “I did love this partnership. I think they were incredible. I love Britt so much. I think she is one of the best dancers that I ever worked with.”

Now below, check out the dance routines from last night of Guillermo and Witney, Jackson and Emma and Taylor and Britt, and let us know if you think the right couple was sent packing via the comment section below.

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Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS Viral Hits Night: Who Was the Fiercest Couple of Them All?

Published

1 week ago

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September 23, 2026

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Dancing with the Stars Viral Hits Night

In week 2 of ballroom dance floor action on Dancing With the Stars season 35, it was “viral hits night,” which had all the celebrity contestants and their pro partners going head -to-head with each other, unlike last week’s two-night season premiere where the men were solely on night one and the women on night two.

Now, the 14 remaining couples strutted their stuff and their routines on the September 22 episode, where it was clear that paralympian, Ezra Frech and olympian, Amber Glenn showed how balance and athleticism came into play. BUT, there was no one more than Frech, who with one prosthetic leg, just could get down on the dance floor better than the rest of us, anytime anywhere!

When the smoke cleared, three couples had the highest scores from the panel of judges, Carrie Ann, Derek and Bruno. Each received a 21/30 score and were a top the leaderboard ahead of the night’s final results.

Dancing with the Stars Cast

Photo: ABC

The top scores belonged to: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy who danced a Jive to “Animal” by Katseye, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach who performed a cha-cha to “Low” by Flo Rida, and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov who took to the floor performing a tango
to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison, who was in the ballroom DJing the song!

WHO WAS SENT HOME?

At the end of the night, the results were revealed. The first six couples who were announced as safe were: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong, Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart, and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov.

Also safe were: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

The bottom three were revealed as: Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten, and Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson. In the end, Giada and Alan who were sent home.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, airs Tuesdays, 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC and Disney+

Take a look at the top three highest scored dances from last night’s Viral Hits Night’s competition below. Then let us know, who you thought was the fiercest couple of them all, via the comment section.

 

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Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS : ‘Viral Hits Night’ Preview; What Song and Dance Did the 14 Remaining Couples Choose?

Published

2 weeks ago

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September 20, 2026

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Dancing with the Stars

After last week’s two-part season 35 premiere, Dancing with the Stars continues with the 14 remaining couples return to the ballroom for “Viral Hits Night.” For this next step towards the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy, the celebrity contestants and their professional partners will hit the ballroom dance floor and perform routines to some of the biggest musical hits and unforgettable moments that have taken social media by storm.

“Viral Hits Night” airs on Tuesday, September 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT, 7:00-9:00 p.m. CDT), while being simulcast live cross both ABC and Disney+ in local time zones and next day on Hulu.

Previously, Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were sent home as were the same-sex dancing duo of Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills. Now below, check out the couples still in the mix along with their dance styles and songs for Tuesday night’s edition of Dancing with the Stars.

Photo: ABC

CELEBRITY AND PRO PARTNERS PLANNED ROUTINES

Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov will perform a Tango to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison
Taylor Hanson and partner Britt Stewart will perform a Cha Cha to “Cake By the Ocean” by DNCE
Harry Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson will perform a Viennese Waltz to “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls

Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson will perform a Paso Doble to “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna
Jackson Olson and partner Emma Slater will perform a Foxtrot to “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams
Tatyana Ali and partner Jan Ravnik will perform a Foxtrot to “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish

Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach will perform a Cha Cha to “Low” by Flo Rida
Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess will perform a Salsa to “Girls” by The Kid LAROI
Connor Wood and partner Rylee Arnold will perform a Tango to “12 to 12” by sombr

Photo: ABC

Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas will perform a Cha Cha to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Ciara Miller and partner Brandon Armstrong will perform a Tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe
Julia Stiles and partner Ezra Sosa will perform a Tango to “The Door” by Teddy Swims

Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a Jive to “Animal” by KATSEYE
Giada De Laurentiis and partner Alan Bersten will perform a Salsa to “Bella Ciao” by Becky G

HOW TO CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES

Fans will be able to vote during the live simulcast of the show in the ET/CT time zones. During this time, online voting will be available to fans in any time zone in the U.S., its territories and Canada via dwtsvote.abc.com, and fans on participating U.S. wireless carriers can also vote via SMS/text (fans in Canada cannot vote via SMS/text). Live viewer votes from the night will be combined with the judges’ scores to determine who may be in jeopardy of elimination.

Dancing with the Stars is co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.

So, looking at the 14 remaining couples selected dance routines and song choice, combined with what you saw last week, who do you think remains a strong frontrunner as the team to beat? Let us know your picks via the comment section below.

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