Connect with us

News

13

Hamilton's Renee Elise Goldsberry On Her Time On One Life to Live: "It Was A Beautiful Experience"

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Courtesy/AOLBuild

Courtesy/AOLBuild

Tony nominee and former One Life to Live star, Renee Elise Goldsberry (Ex-Evangeline Williamson) sat down for a very special half hour edition of the one-on-one AOL Build interview series.

Goldsberry, who is wowing audiences every night on Broadway as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, may just take home her first Tony when the awards are handed out next Sunday night,  June 12th on CBS.   Goldsberry is nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Category.

During her AOL Build interview, in which the host noted that the studio was packed for Renee, and one of the most highly-attended, Goldsberry discussed her time in Llanview and how important her daytime soap experience, and the fans, have been to her success.

Renee on what she learned from her time as One Life heroine Evangeline:  “I was on One Life to Live for four years and it was a beautiful experience, and another wonderful family of people  …  another dream come true .. and another really awesome opportunity to learn.  I learned so much about acting on a soap opera.  Fortunately, we get so much opportunity to fail – it’s trial and error.  When there are five hours of show a week, just the pace of that is fantastic and crazy.  So that was one of the great things about it, but one of the other great things about it was learning about ‘the rooting factor’.  Meaning, who is the audience rooting for?  It serves me in everything I do, whether i am Nettie in The Color Purple, or Geneva Pine in The Good Wife, or whether I’m Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton.   It’s always my job as an actor for you to understand what I am doing, because that is what ‘the rooting factor’ is, and I am always going to be trying to get that from the audience.  So that is another thing I learned from One Life to Live.  And then I have to say  … the fans.  I still have a lot of them and the medium of daytime knows that the currency is really the fans, and I am excited that we had Broadway-Con this year.  I’m excited that we are learning that the greatest resources we have in the theatre are the fans.”

When asked if the One Life to Live fans have been like, “Excuse me, Hamilton fans! We knew about her a long time ago!”, Goldsberry replied: “Back in the day, we had soap operas in New York City.  We don’t have that anymore and it makes me want to shed a tear.   So the actors were all theatre people.  It was not a stretch to go see your favorite actor on a soap opera at night in a Broadway show, or at an Off-Broadway show somewhere.  They have always been a very savvy audience the daytime people, and they will support you doing anything.  If you want to write a book … if you want to put a clothing line together … whatever you do they will support it, and that is what I feel about the theatre fans as well.”

Watch the complete AOL Build with Renee Elise Goldsberry after the jump! Then let us know what did you think of Renee’s comments about the soap opera fans?  Working on One Life?  Will you be watching the Tony’s with excitement to see if Renee takes home her much-deserved first Tony for Hamilton? Comment below!

13 Comments

13 Comments
oldest
newest

Miss her and OLTL…

Me, too!

Loved everything she said! I was always rooting for Blair, not Evangeline, but I’m still a fan. Hope she wins the Tony! And I sure wish they would bring back the NY soaps!

I love Renee, great actress. Y&R need to recast the role of Drucilla winters with Renee. She would be terrific as the new Drucilla.

Renee is a truly gifted actress and singer. I loved Evangeline on One Life to Live. I always felt Evangeline was a much better match for John McBain than flighty Natalie. I know. I’m in the minority there. I was so sorry when she left OLTL. New York theater actors brought the very best to daytime drama. I definitely miss their spark.

Have my fingers crossed that Renee wins her Tony award and wish her continued mega success in everything she does.

I liked her with John too.

I say recast the actress who plays GH’s Jordan with Renee. The current Jordan acts silly and ridiculous, like a primping schoolgirl rather than a serious and dignified police chief. Renee would be perfect. Moreover, she could be paired up with Michael Eastman again.

You’re so NOT in the minority! There are PLENTY of us who wanted John with Evangeline. There were plenty of us who knew that John’s true love was Evangeline. We know that John settled for Natalie because she didn’t have any standards.

At the time, John couldn’t be the man that Evangeline deserved. Natalie, on the other hand, simply wanted John any way she could have him. She required nothing, and basically got nothing in return.

Go, Renee! I’m so rooting for her to win the Tony!

I absolutely loved her as Evangeline and Jovan will always be OTP.
They had this magnetism that drew them to one another it was breathtaking. She challenged John and that chemistry… Damn! So pleased for her!!

Very, very grateful for your support for the daytime genre, Renee Elise Goldsberry. Good luck at the Tony’s. I hope you win!!!!!

Towards the end of the interview Renee says that Phylicia Rashad is one of her theatre heroes. Coincidentally, Phylicia also played a strong black female lawyer on One Lofe to Live.

I really enjoyed this interview and am so happy that Renee is garnering the accolades we all know she deserves.

She’s a class act and a major talent, and not enough good things can come her way.

And I surely do and always will, miss OLTL.

I hope she wins!

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Lands Role in TV Pilot ‘Ghosts Are Real’

Published

on

By

Chad Duell

Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, General Hospital) just wrapped filming for a TV pilot that could bring him back to your screens in the near future. The Daytime Emmy winner took to his Instagram story to reveal is part of the cast of the horror-comedy mockumentary, Ghosts Are Real.

In the spoof, Duell is seen donning a black leather jacket and gloves and dark sunglasses as smoke billows up around him. Chad wrote  “Pilot in the books, Can’t wait to share it with you all ”

Ghosts Are Reals official Instagram account, which the producers just started shared the series is about “A dysfunctional ghost-hunting crew finally finds real ghosts.
A scripted paranormal horror-comedy series.” The account also revealed that the pilot episode is now in post-production, and episode 1 or Case 001 is called “The Scooters.”

General Hospital

Photo: JPI

LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL AND GETTING BACK ON TV

After a 15-year-run as GH’s Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly’s (Laura Wright) son, Michael Corinthos, Duell made the decision to exit the show and take a break. His last episode aired in January of 2025. In May of that year, Rory Gibson debuted as the recast Michael and has been firmly-implanted into the role ever since.

In a livestream conversation last month on the Michael Fairman Channel, Chad opened about his current foray into music after releasing his first two EDM-style tracks, If You Need Me followed by Static in the Crowded Room.

Looking back on his decision to leave General Hospital when he did, Duell shared his thoughts at the time, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens. Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”

Duell also explained he had not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the soap. Chad expressed, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into (acting) again.”

In case you missed it, you can check out the full conversation with Chad below.

Now let us know, do you hope Chad’s new role in the pilot for Ghosts Are Real eventually becomes a series? Would you like to see Chad back landing more TV and film roles? Let us know in the comment section.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber

Published

on

By

Alley Mills

Heather Webber, one of the all-time villains in General Hospital history is on her way back to the canvas, when two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills reprises the role beginning on the Thursday, November 5 episode.

TV Insider revealed the comeback news today. Mills began playing the role of Heather back in October of 2002. The previous Heathers included: Robin Mattson, Mary O’Brien and the very first Heather, who was none other than Georganne LaPiere (the half-sister of Cher).

As for Mills, she actually took home the Daytime Emmy last year at the 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series. She won in the same category back in 2022.

Heather Webber

Photo: ABC

FROM THE WONDERS YEARS TO THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL TO GENERAL HOSPITAL

Alley Mills assumed the role of Heather Webber in October 2022 and had ended her initial run in 2023 and then was back again in 2024. Soap fans also know that Mills had played Pam Douglas on the The Bold and the Beautiful since 2006 and appeared on the series through 2019, and made appearance in story in 2021 and 2022.

On B&B, Alley was a part of the memorable storyline which saw Pam and Stephanie’s (Susan Flannery) mother, Ann Douglas (the late Betty White) pass away. In addition to GH and B&B. primetime fans know Alley as Norma Arnold, the mom of the ABC’s hit late 80s and early 90s series, The Wonder Years.

When GH viewers last saw Heather and her crime spree as The Hook, she had taken the life of Brando Corbin (the late Johnny Wactor) and what was believed at the time to be the life of Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), although a few years later, Britt showed up alive.

Heather wound up in the slammer at Pentonville, but got released in 2024, when it was revealed that she had a bad hip replacement which resulted in cobalt poisoning which was said to be the root cause of her erratic behavior.

WHAT BRINGS HEATHER WEBBER BACK INTO THE STORY?

Eventually, Heather’s son, Steven Lars (Scott Reeves) returned to Port Charles to retrieve his mother, and to make sure she was taken care for out of town. Now the question becomes, why is Heather back on the GH canvas in 2026?

One theory! Could Heather be revealed as the person stalking Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali)? After all, Heather is the mother to the late Esme Prince (Avery Pohl). Perhaps, she wants retribution for her daughter, and this is her twisted way of doing it? Or, is something else at play here? Stay tuned!

Take a look at our conversation with Alley from the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards immediately following her second Emmy win below.

Now let us know, excited to know Alley Mills is returning as Heather? What do you think will be her storyline this time around? Weigh-in via the comment section.

 

Continue Reading

General Hospital

THIS FRIDAY: ‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali to Drop Music Video for Her Single ‘Pray’

Published

on

By

Tabyana Ali

General Hospital’s Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) is following up the September 1st premiere and drop of her new single Pray, with the release of the music video for it this Friday, September 25.

Ali made the announcement on Tuesday, September 22 via her Instagram account, which featured snippets from the music video with the date 9.25.26.

The timing couldn’t be better since most of the music industry is all about Sunday night’s September 27 MTV VMAs (Video Music Awards).

Tabyana Ali and Giovanni Mazza

Photo: ABC

TRINA TIME

Previiously, Trina and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) performed the song “Pray” at a showcase arranged by music executive Simon (Grady Eldridge), with the looming question of who is Trina’s stalker yet to be revealed.

In more recent episodes of GH, Trina was on the warpath after learning that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) was the actual driver of the car involved in the accident with Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and her father, Curtis (Donnell Turner).

Realizing Brook Lynn kept her mouth shut, in the end, Curtis is serving two years of jail time over accosting Isaiah  Gannon (Sawani Wilson) believing he was the other driver! When Brook Lynn knew it was her all along. The situation has caused tension between Trina and her music manager.

WHERE TO LISTEN AND FIND TABYANA ALI’S LATEST SINGLE

Pray is based off a poem written by Ali and was turned into a track.

Currently, you can download or stream the song via You Tube Music, Apple Music, Spotify and more.

So, are you looking forward to seeing Tabyana’s music video for her single Pray this Friday? Let us know via the comment section.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TABYANA ALI🌙✨🌺 (@tabyanaali)

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

13
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x