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!
ABC has named their ‘Bachelor’ for the upcoming 30th season of the reality series. Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old NFL quarterback who plays playing for the Washington Commanders, will be handing out the roses as he searches for love.
The upcoming season of The Bachelor will premiere in 2027 on Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m ET. on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.
The announcement was made, and Hartman’s first interview was on the Friday, November 13 edition of Good Morning America, where he shared with cohosts Sam Champion and Rebecca Jarvis: “I’m excited but also very nervous, I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough.”
Photo: NFL
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS QB WRESTLED WITH THE NOTION OF BECOMING THE BACHELOR
Hartman also revealed his initial thoughts on appearing on The Bachelor: “Honestly, at first, I was like ‘no way. The connotation of it − I don’t know.” Ultimately the QB was swayed to take on the reality franchise lead for its upcoming season.
A Charlotte, North Carolina, native, Hartman played for Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the college ranks. It was there he set ACC records, including most career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games. Sam was also featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Currently, on the NFL’s Washington Commanders, he serves as a quarterback on their practice squad.
FORMER ATHLETES THAT ALSO GAVE OUT THE FINAL ROSE
The pick of Sam Hartman aligns with pro athletes who have appeared on the show in the past including: now ‘Bachelor’ host, NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavi, ace car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and former NFL practice squad player Colton Underwood.
The Bachelor is executive produced by Scott Teti, Jason Ehrlich and Andy Frank serve as executive producers.
You can check out Sam Hartman talking about being cast as the series lead for the upcoming season 30 of The Bachelor with GMA below.
Now let us know, will you be checking out the 2027 season of The Bachelor featuring Sam looking for love? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”
Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.
Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.
But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?
Photo: CBS
LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING
Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”
This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”
Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”
Photo: ABC
A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY
When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”
As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”
You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.
So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Tamara Tunie On Bittersweet Emmy Win Without Scott Bryce: ‘I Only Wish He Had Been Here a Little Longer to Share This With Me’
‘The Bachelor’ Names NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Lead for Season 30
‘One Life to Live’ and ‘General Hospital’ Actress Bree Williamson Mourns the Loss of Husband Michael John Roberts
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly Fears Escalating Tensions Between Sonny and Josslyn: ‘I’ve Already Lost One Kid Because of That Man. I Won’t Lose Another’
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Tamara Tunie On Bittersweet Emmy Win Without Scott Bryce: ‘I Only Wish He Had Been Here a Little Longer to Share This With Me’
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
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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.,