News
Hillary B. Smith Interview: From B&B's Dr. Stacy to the final moments of Bo & Nora on OLTL!

Courtesy/ABC
Hillary B. Smith has been one in demand actress in recent months! First, she finished up almost 20 years as Nora Hanen Gannon Buchanan on One Life to Live, and then gave a tour de force performances as the real scene stealer in season 3 of the hit web soap, Venice! And just as soap fans were saying their goodbyes to Nora on One Life, came the news that she was snatched up by The Bold and the Beautiful to play Hope Logan’s sex therapist, Dr. Stacy Barton!
We chatted with Hillary, for this “quickie interview” on the silver carpet at the recent 25th anniversary party of The Bold and the Beautiful, whose special anniversary show airs today on CBS. We got the Daytime Emmy winner’s thoughts on her whirlwind soap life, the heart-tugging final moments between Bo and Nora as One Life signed off the air, and if Dr. Stacy will be any good at her job!
Why did you decide to join The Bold and the Beautiful?
HILLARY: It was because I have always wanted to work with the Bell family. I have great respect for the Bell family and when Brad called, I went, “Yes, I would like to go and play.” It’s a half hour soap which I think is the way to do it now. I really like the business model that they function under. I think its brilliant and I had a lot of friends out in California and I said to my husband, “It is time for a new adventure.” I did not even know what the character was and I didn’t care!
They put the official press announcement out that you were coming to B&B, just as One Life was ending!
HILLARY: It was funny. They had called just before the show was ending. I got the call that Friday morning; on January 13th that the deal is done. And I was like,”OK, here we go.” It was a very sad day January 13th, and a very happy day. It was like the old adage, “when one door closes, another opens”. I don’t know though, as it all seemed so bizarre and so surreal.

Courtesy/ABC
The final scenes with you and Bob Woods (Bo) were so touching for long time viewers of One Life to Live. When after the birth of their grandson, Drew, Nora and Bo had that exchange at the doorway! We all needed hankies!
HILLARY: Oh, “I love you, Red” and “I love you Bo Buchanan”. So beautiful. I got my chance to say goodbye on screen as Nora and Bo, and to Bob Woods. Listen, I was on The Doctors when it ended. I remember looking around at Jada Rowland (Carolee) and David O’Brien (Steve), and Jim Pritchett (Matt). And Jada said, “I cannot even believe they are not dealing with us at the end of the show.” And I went, “Well, that’s what is wrong. They are not dealing with the vets … with the people that the audience wanted to watch!” And so this time with OLTL, it was interesting to be on the other end of that, and being one of the vets, and knowing, I got my goodbye with Bob. It meant so much to me.
What do you think of what is going on over at General Hospital?
HILLARY: I can only speak to the past on General Hospital, and that is nothing against the actors at all, they are wonderful. I just don’t like a story where the bad guys are the good guys. I just don’t think that is good soap. Good soap to me was you knew who to root for, and you knew who to root against, and you could love to root against, but it was always very clear. And, I always thought soap operas had a moral obligation to do that … to make it clear. When our then executive producer, Linda Gottlieb came to me at One Life to Live and said, “You are going to defend the rapists and get them off.” That is when I went to her and said, “Can you just do me a favor? Could you just make Nora find out that her clients were guilty before they got the innocent verdict, so it’s bittersweet and she does not revel in it?” And then they took off with that, and I think that made much more sense.
So your new character of Dr. Stacy Barton’s first patient that we see her treating is Hope Logan, and already the young gal is pill-popping! Is Stacy any good at her job? (Laughs)

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
HILLARY: Stacy is a good therapist. Sometimes things happen like that without doctor acknowledgement. It is very well-written in the sense that you think the story is going in one direction and then they back off, and it goes in another direction. It does take you by surprise and I appreciate it. The story is dealing with taking drugs while staying in the parameters of society and functioning, which is what people do. I love Kim Matula (Hope). She is really phenomenal. To pull off what she is doing, and how she is doing it, and knowing the person she is off camera, this is really good.
Who should Dr. Stacy have her eye on in the men department on B&B?
HILLARY: I have so marked my men! John McCook (Eric) … to die for! Winsor Harmon (Thorne) …. I am all over that one and Scott Clifton (Liam) …. I am just going to swoop in and take him. I am going to mother him to death. I love him. There are a lot of yummy yummies, like Don Diamont (Bill). Oh that’s a good one. Then Heather Tom (Katie) and I can go it. But, you know what? You put me up against Heather Tom and I would look at her and then go, “OK, you can have him!”
After reading the interview, let us know your thoughts about Hillary’s comments!
News
Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit the Set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’; Daytime Emmy Winners Reflect on Show Then and Now

The one and only Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) dropped in to see her former co-stars on The Bold and the Beautiful at their Sunset Las Palmas Studio in Hollywood, along with her good friend and another B&B co-star Ian Buchanan (ex-James Warwick) on Tuesday October 20.
It was the first time in a very long time that The four-time Daytime Emmy winning actress was reunited with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, Jennifer Gareis and even her TV sister, Alley Mills (Pam, B&B now Heather, GH) showed up for the day too!
Flannery played the Forrester matriarch from 1987 until 2012. It was then that after playing the part of Stephanie for 25 years that Susan made the decision to retire from acting and in one of the most heartbreaking sendoffs, passes away from lung cancer in Brooke’s arms in November of 2012. During her B&B tenure, Flannery won 3 of her 4 Daytime Emmys, the other being for her first soap role as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives back in 1975.

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
As for Ian Buchanan, he played Dr. Warwick, psychiatrist, from 1993 to 1999. He returned for other runs in 2014 and 2017. Buchanan took home his Daytime Emmy in 1997 for his work as James. Soap fans also remember, Ian as mobster Duke Lavery on General Hospital, and Dr. Greg Madden on All My Children,
Both Susan and Ian shared their thoughts on coming back to The Bold and the Beautiful, for Susan 14 years later since he exited and for Ian close to 9 years since his last appearance below.
Susan said, “It’s definitely like coming home in a way, even though it’s not the same studio. It’s really lovely to see old faces and old faces with new faces. It takes you back mentally. You start remembering what it was like back then, even things like how much your feet would ache at the end of the day from wearing six-inch heels. It was just lovely to be back and see everybody.”

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
Ian expressed, “It’s a mind trip, you know. When I was sitting looking at the big Forrester set, it was like stepping back in time, almost. It takes you back mentally, and you start remembering what it was like when you were here before.”
“It’s lovely to see all these people again, even if you don’t know everybody,” explained soap vet Buchanan. “There’s something really special about coming back and seeing the show and the people who have been part of it for so long.”
So, happy to see Susan and Ian with some of their former castmates? Do you think Stephanie and Brooke is one of the greatest frenemy stories in daytime history? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.
In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.
Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

PhotoL JPI
THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA
Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”
However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”
Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.
Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.
So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
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Love Hillary B. Smith…she’s just amazing in every way. I appreciate her honesty about the whole situation with OLTL and completely agree with her point about “a story where the bad guys are the good guys. I just don’t think that is good soap.” THIS is a huge reason why I didn’t watch GH for a longtime.
Good luck to Hillary Smith and her future projects!
The last scene between Bo and Nora on OLTL was phenomenal….for me, it made the entire show (and I thought the overall show was good), but that moment was full of genuine love and affection and an absolute recognition of the awesomeness of Bo and Nora. Bravo to both Hillary and Bob. It is a moment that I will never forget.
I’m enjoying Hillary as Dr. Stacy on B&B, a soap I’ve never watched. Except…I keep thinking / hoping that Bob Woods walks in as some new character that Dr. Stacy gets involved with!! I can’t help it…..I miss seeing these two on my screen!
I miss OLTL so much. I don’t currently watch The Bold and Beautiful but I wish Hillary B Smith all the luck in the world..
I love the energy that Hilary brought to the role of Nora Buchanan. I’ll check out B&B – maybe her performance will make me a fan. Would still love to see OLTL revived someday and her be a part of that. So many of us still keep hoping…
She was the best Margo on ATWT, and I followed her to OLTL. Her statements about GH are the reason that is the one soap I will not watch. I’ve watched them all to varying degrees throughout the past 40+ years, but that one is one I simply can’t get into, and her thoughts are exactly why. It’s the reason I’ve started to drift away from Y&R as well, as they insist on promoting the Adam character who is a sociopath. HBS has renewed my interest in B&B – love her!
I just adore Hillary B. Smith. She is one classy lady who knows and appreciates her audience. Her comments are exactly why I stopped watching GH and I doubt I ever do again. I am now watching B&B after it was announced she was headed there. I loved her as fiesty Nora. It was a shame how backburned she and Bob Woods were on OLTL for the past few years. Their scenes made the ending for me. So touching.
Wow, her comments on GH are so dead on. It is the reason I stopped watch GH a longtime ago.
I must admit I started watching B&B again because of her, it will be interesting to see where they take Dr. Stacy.
I love Hillary B. Smith. She is one of my favorites actresses and a beautiful person inside and out. I’m so happy for her new role, she deserves it. I wish her all the best.
Good Luck to her on B&B. She is one of the lucky ones who found work immediately.
Although true to a degree, I don’t appreciate her putting out those comments about GH right now, when GH is fighting so hard to stay on air. Plus, those comments have been said before so she didn’t say ANYTHING different, therefore, her comments didn’t need to be said AT THIS TIME w/ GH struggling so hard. She should be a champion of the only ABC soap left on air, since ABC was her home for 20 yrs. And comments like that isn’t going to help one bit. Also, Sonny is ruthless in business, but that character was written from the beginning as the mobster with the ” Heart of Gold “. He loves his children, and is loyal to his friends. I don’t recall them ever showing Sonny as a cheater, just as a man that choices business over woman, which is hardly not practical in today’s world. The only thing wrong with Sonny is that the writer’s have over worked him, and he is always on screen. But if Sonny’s role was played in moderation (he and Jason’s) it would not have gotten suffocating to the viewers- which have said this. (key-word, moderation). With the finale ABC soap struggling on life support, I think those comments should have been reserved by Hillary. Keep in mind, politics are involved in most everything (to perhaps remind people of GH weaknesses) so as to drive fans to her show. After-all, yes she is a fine actress, but in her case, she was ALSO hired to drive her OLTL / ABC fans to B&B.
1loveabcsoaps, forever until the Fat Lady Sings.
* No ABC soap has been my ‘absolute ‘ favorite. EACH show has been at one time or another depending on storyline. That’s why my views are objective when I defend the shows and character’s opposite one another. I am 1loveABCsoaps!
1loveabcsoaps,Im with you on this one.
I am tired of Sonny’s mob/gangster stories… That’s why I stopped watching GH for a while….I liked Gh In the wsb days with Robert & Anna…And wwhen Ruby & Bobby were on…………….The Webber brothers .. Lesley , Felicia………OLTL ia still my favorite soap & lived watching Nora & Bo, ETC……….Enough already with sonny and his revenge stuff………He’s a good actor and all but, time to change his storyline…..I think this is turning a lot of fans off.. And they don’t want to watch…Time to turn the page on the mob stories……..I hope John McBain can whip Sonny into place…For killing his sister.. Didn’t know John had one. I thought it was his gilfriend he was once engage to that was killed…OLTL never mentioned John having a sister.. Again I hope John takes Sonny down & pay for what he did to John…I hope John whips Sonny into shape…
It’s loved watching Nora & Bo…
Im sick of the mob stories to, John and sonny have a history together,john told anna that sonny is reason his sister is dead,well john isnt going to let that go.and LIke you I dont remember a sister I thought his girlfriend was killed ,It will be interesting to find out what will happen ,One life to live was my favorite and it still is wish we could all go back to landview.
Actually what she said about GH is true. It’s not as if GH hadn’t received chances to clean up its act.
Clean up these mob/gangster stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heather, read my comment above. I didn’t say she wasn’t being truthul, in fact I said agreed. What I said was she could have reserved her comments (since she wasn’t saying anything new) and especially…… with GH on life support, the only ABC soap left, which is struggling to stay afloat. I think it was a political statement, (true or not) to drive her OLTL fans to her show.
I agree with her on the G.H comments. I couldn’t stand the sonny ,jason Garbage. Same thing ,over and over, Same Looks, same facial expressions, Same theme. “Sonny Loves his Children, But he’s not safe to be around , He’s head of the mob…etc etc etc..” YUK!.Glorification of Mob leaders, and making women Stupid, falling for him, having Babies, w/him…then trying to keep him away from his kids.. (he’s too dangerous crap)..over and over.. ALEXIS for example. Stopped watching it way back then…when She had a Baby w/ sonny………..Sooooooooooo Stupid. Then… He’s a Mob Leader w/ Honor!!LOL Loves his kids…Ridiculous!! Sooo freakin stupid. I can’t wait for Ron C to Change it all up…Bring back some good storyLines back, Fun…Less Mob Crap. And it is Crap. ..IMO.
You have a good point.. Which I agree with.. Comment on 4/2 at 5:41am
Yes fun, less mob stories… That’s my biggest complaint about GH… Just this one!!!!!!!!!!
What was funny with her character on B&B is when she handed Hope the pills that she had ready for her without even knowing her history and then told her she could not renew them without seeing her first when she prescribed them without even meeting her. This show drives me crazy and when I watched her it just made me miss sensible Nora! I am afraid once this Hope show storyline is over if it ever is that will be it for the character. Maybe she will pick up a sitcom she is really quite good at comedy!
These mob stories have too many vendetta’s that seem to go on and on.. They are never ending.. Don’t remember seeing so much of these mob stories a few years ago.. Gh was better in the 90’s…………More pleasnt stories instead of all these violent m,ob stories…I agree with Hilliary..Soaps should be fun & trying to solve the mystery…Of some particular story…And making the bad guy out to be a good guy….GH really needs to get away from these mob/gangster stories. Has been going on TOOOOO long……OLTL was fun..It made you laugh, cry,that emotional connection….The charcters were fun and loving..Roxy was FUN…………………Viki held the hold show together, with all her wonderful & caring advice to whoever needed it……..OLTL was a very special soap..And I miss it terribily…………I want to go back to Landview TOO… I miss Landfair….I could go on & on…………Again GH needs to have more pleasant stories..There are some but, they need more………….Getting tired of Maxie lately.. With her saying I killed Robin & we all know it was an acident… And Robin is alive, HURRAY… This story is interesting to see how it will come out..Solving the mystery about who has Robin captive………..That’s what I like….
Correction and not making the bad guy out to be a good guy…….
Nora, She is tooo cool, I loved her on OLTL and now I have to find out when Bold & Beautiful is-haha I have no clue (sorry) but here I come Stacy! You go girl, I love her personality, it’s like mine, haha, well kinda.,