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!
Breaking News
‘Neighbours’ EP Jason Herbison on Series Daytime Emmy Nomination: “It’s a Huge Honour to be Nominated Alongside Such Iconic US Daytime Dramas”
When the 51st annual Daytime Emmy nominations were revealed last Friday, the iconic Australian soap opera, Neighbours, made the grade as one of the nominees for this year’s Outstanding Daytime Drama Series going up against U.S. titans such as General Hospital, The Young and the Restless et al.
That is because the revival of Neighbours, which is now seen in the United States streaming on Amazon Freevee, is now eligible under the rules from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
Not only did Neighbours receive its first Daytime Emmy nomination for Drama Series, but also for one of its legendary stars, Guy Pearce, who returned for a stint in the revival as Mike Young. Pearce is nominated for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series.
Photo: Freemantle
Throughout its run, Neighbours has received several nominations and wins in Australian and the UK, with this being its first nomination in the U.S.
Neighbours Executive Producer Jason Herbison shared on this momentous moment for the series: ‘Neighbours has been on an incredible journey these past few years and a Daytime Emmy Award nomination is the icing on the cake! It’s a huge honour to be nominated alongside such iconic US daytime dramas. This news is an exciting moment for our hard working cast and crew and a wonderful recognition of the new chapter of the show on Amazon Freevee.”
Photo: Freemantle
For those who need a bit of a refresher on the revival of Neighbours. The series streams exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and U.S. and on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. New episodes air daily Monday-Thursday on Amazon. The new series launched on 18 September, 2023, and picks up two years after the finale left off. In Australia, Network 10 retains first-run rights in Australia for the new chapter of the series.
Photo: Freemantle/AmazonFreevee
The series is known as the longest running local drama of all time in Australia and has launched the careers of so many celebrities including: Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, the aforementioned Guy Pearce, and Liam and Chris Hemsworth, to name but a few.
Long running series star Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodbridge shared their many thanks on Neighbours Daytime Emmy nominations in a video message below.
So, what do you think of ‘Neighbours’ being nominated for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Could they be the spoiler in the category? Weigh-in below.
Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne would like to share a special message regarding our incredible #Neighbours Daytime Emmy Award nominations 💛 @DaytimeEmmys pic.twitter.com/wWWo5PxmfD
— Neighbours (@neighbours) April 23, 2024
Days Of Our Lives
Lisa Rinna Would Be Down to Reprise Her Role of Taylor McBride in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot
When Lisa Rinna departed her popular role of Billie Reed on Days of our Lives back in 1995, her next major role would be a jump to primetime and the soapy Melrose Place.
In 1996, Lisa was introduced as new character Taylor McBride and stayed with the Fox young adult sudser for three seasons. Now in 2024, with the recent reveal that a Melrose Place revival is the works with Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton all on board to reprise their signature roles, would Rinna board the project should it come to fruition?
Speaking with PEOPLE, Rinna expressed, “Well, gosh, I’ve heard about it. I haven’t been approached or anything, but I would love to see what Taylor McBride is up to 25 years later. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Photo: FOX
OG Melrose Place fans know that in story, Taylor moved to the Melrose Place apartment building with her husband Kyle played by Rob Estes. However, Taylor had her eye on Dr. Peter Burns played by former GH star Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco). But, by the time she had moved to the apartment complex, Peter had married tough as nails ad executive, Amanda Woodward, played by Heather Locklear.
Recalling her time on Melrose Place, Rinna added that it, “was one of my greatest and most fun acting experiences, playing Taylor and working with Heather and the whole crew.” Rinna also noted, “So if they need a Taylor McBride appearance, they know who to call. I’m around.”
Photo: JPI
The new Melrose Place is in development at CBS Studios. In the premise of the reboot, the Melrose Place residents reunite after the death of one of their friends, “but the pressure cooker of a reunion soon uncovers old traumas, rekindles old romances, reignites old resentments, and reveals new secrets… throwing our characters into chaotic drama that’s reminiscent of the past, but with a much more modern perspective.”
So, would you want to see Lisa Rinna reprise her Melrose Place role as Taylor McBride? Comment below.
News
Sean Kanan’s Stepdaughter, Juliet Vega, to Appear on The Bold and the Beautiful
Coming up on this Friday’s April 26th episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, Juliet Vega, the stepdaughter to Sean Kanan will make an appearance on the CBS daytime drama series in the role of Michele.
Keeping it “All in the Family”, the character is named after Juliet’s real-life mother, and Kanan’s wife, writer and producer, Michele Kanan.
Back in 2012, Sean married Michele Vega and thus began their blended family which included his daughter, Simone, and Michelle’s children, Peter, Gigi, and her twins, Annie and Juliet.
Photo: JPI
According to a B&B show spokesperson, Juliet’s B&B character is intentionally named Michele in honor of her mother and Sean’s wife.
While we don’t know how “Michele” shows up in story, it is the same episode that Clint Howard makes an appearance as well seemingly tied to the case of where in the world is Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown)?
Photo: CBS
We can’t imagine that Juliet wouldn’t get the opportunity to mix it up on-screen with her stepdad, Sean Kanan. Previously, the two acted together in Sean’s streaming series Studio City, where she played the role of Delilah and he played soap actor, Sam Stevens. In it, Delilah is the bio-daughter Sam never knew he had.
So, looking forward to seeing Juliet on B&B and how ‘Michele’ turns up in the story? Comment below.
Wally Kurth Talks on His DAYS Daytime Emmy Nomination, His Emotional Scenes, and Remembering John Aniston
‘Neighbours’ EP Jason Herbison on Series Daytime Emmy Nomination: “It’s a Huge Honour to be Nominated Alongside Such Iconic US Daytime Dramas”
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Have Their Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Lisa Rinna Would Be Down to Reprise Her Role of Taylor McBride in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot
Sean Kanan’s Stepdaughter, Juliet Vega, to Appear on The Bold and the Beautiful
‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
‘Tracker’s’ Justin Hartley on His ‘Passions’ Soap Start, “They’d Have Me With No Shirt Walking Around a Hospital for Three Weeks. It Was Ridiculous, but I Loved It.”
The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
AEW Dynasty: Swerve Strickland Becomes AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Perry Returns, Will Ospreay Retires Move After Scary Finish
GH’s Finola Hughes Chats on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, New Directions for Characters in Port Charles, and Anna’s Love Life
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General HospitalApril 21, 2024‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
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General HospitalApril 15, 2024General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
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NewsApril 20, 2024The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
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Days Of Our LivesApril 19, 2024Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
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General HospitalApril 22, 2024Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
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Days Of Our LivesApril 17, 2024DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
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.,