Beyond the Gates
Victoria Rowell Reveals She Auditioned for the Role of ‘Beyond the Gates’ Matriarch Anita Dupree
When Beyond the Gates made it to air on February 24, 2025, becoming the first Black-led hour-long soap opera on network television, for many. they thought this day would never come. Now, the series has already been renewed by CBS for its second season earlier this week which has been both heralded and celebrated.
Before there was Beyond the Gates, Victoria Rowell, was extremely popular with viewers of The Young and the Restless for her role as Drucilla Barber Winters. At that time in 1990, she along with the late, great Bill Bell (creator and head writer, Y&R) steered the story of Drucilla becoming a ballet dancer, like Rowell herself, in a storyline that Rowell told the AP, that showed, “It is possible to be in a lower socioeconomic environment and be aspirational.”
In the feature article which spoke to not only Rowell, but Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse, All My Children) and Veronica Redd (ex-Mamie, Y&R) on Black actors who were the forerunners to Beyond the Gates, Victoria revealed that she received a touching note from CBS when Beyond the Gates was announced.

Photo: JPI
Rowell shared, “I have been contacted with great respect from the powers that be at CBS, thanking me for all of my hard work, recognizing the work that I have done that has influenced this moment and I appreciate that.”
However. as many of Rowell’s fans know, she sued CBS and the producers of Y&R back in 2015 for lack of inclusion of Black actors and pushed for more hires in front of the camera and behind the scenes. That suit was eventually settled out of court.
Most interestingly, Victoria noted that she was “astounded” when she was asked to audition for the role of Anita Dupree, the matriarch of the wealthy family residing in the D.C/Maryland area. That role eventually went to former As the World Turns star, Tamara Tunie.

Photo: CBS
Victoria recalled that after she submitted her audition tape for the role, she never heard back. However, she expressed that she thinks Tamara Tunie is a “brilliant actress.” CBS was reached out for comment by the AP for their feature and did not comment.
Meanwhile, Rowell has some upcoming projects she recently teased including; the upcoming Christmas movie The Secret Between Us and the drama, The Juror.
So, what do you think of Victoria Rowell auditioning for the role of Anita Dupree? Do you think it was a kind gesture by CBS to reach out to her before the launch of ‘Beyond the Gates’ and note her influence in daytime television playing Y&R’s Drucilla? With so many people guessing just who is really “Aristotle Dumas” on Y&R, many think it’s really Drucilla! Do you think it is? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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I would like to see Victoria back on a soap but I always felt that we should know what happened to Dru when she went over that cliff. When I heard BTG was coming and what was unique about it (having a primarily Black cast), I did think Victoria would be good for the show. Maybe she didn’t get the part of Anita but the writers at BTG can always create a new character for her. That’s what I think anyway.
She should be Anita’s sister.
Hopefully this is a peace offering by CBS and maybe even the beginning of her return to Young Restless!?
Unfortunately withristoff gone it would be hard to imagine Dru without Neil but she’s been severely missed! The Winters clan could use her more than ever now!
However the show would also need a new capable HW able to tell a story from beginning to end.
She was one of the first I thought of when Behind the Gates was first mentioned. She’s a great actress and the Winters family has never been the same since the terrible loss of Kristoff and the day Victoria was written off as Dru ! Hopefully BTG can find a spot for her Would love it !
Good on her for auditioning, but I’m very glad Tamara Tunie got the role of Anita.
Tamara Tunis is great! Good actress. She plays her character great! Big fan!
Enough time has passed now.The Young and the Restless need to bring her back.Lily and Devon need their mom. Young and Restless and CBS get your act together and bring Druscilla back
No Drucilla isn’t needed. That makes 38 years I watch this soap and she wasn’t important like some fans want her to be. Devon & Lily suck, the Winters suck. After the way Victoria Rowell trashed the show, she never should be back. They have great veteran actors they don’t use and are loyal to the show.
I’ve been saying this for a long time. Since Neil’s death, the Winter’s family needs their matriarch.
If I was writing this show here is what I would write Damas is VR /drucillia with major memory loss she has no idea who she is ! Bingo memories come flooding back she realizes who she is! Great story
I agree with you I was hoping that this plot was also going to bring Drew back.
Good luck to Y&R how it stays number one is beside me but this now Phyllis nick and Sharon ! Hey we did that long time ago ! Move on! Not the same show time to move on making Sharon pathetic ugh
You idiots want a story here is one she is this stupid person called AD she has no memory of her past she shows up and blows the past up I would love seeing her back she was always a great asset to the show but of course that was before politics and all the crap we have brought into entertainment into it!!! Can’t we just enjoy a show without bringing your personal shit into it. Leave your crap at the door and let us enjoy a show again because lord knows Y&R needs it
I’d love to see Victoria Rowell revealed as Aristotle Dumas. Or maybe an even better idea, she should be the head writer of Y&R.
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.

Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.

Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Daytime Emmy Winners Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

Just over a week ago, Beyond the Gates stars Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie broke ground becoming the first performers in the history of daytime’s newest soap opera to win Daytime Emmys!
Michelle became the first, when she took home gold statuette earlier in the ceremonies in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category. Later, Tunie joined her when she took home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, the first Emmy of her veteran career.
Now, both actresses visit the Michael Fairman Channel live for two separate chats! Ambyr Michelle will be with us on Wednesday, November 11 beginning at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while Tamara Tunie follows the next day on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Photo: CBS
Find out what happened on their Emmy night both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, and in the celebration afterwards, plus what’s next for Eva and Anita in story on the CBS soap opera.
AMBYR TOOK A ‘SEAT AT THE TABLE’
Daytime Emmy viewers will recall Ambyr’s heartfelt Emmy acceptance speech, when she shared, “I don’t just see an award. I see every audition, every rejection, every moment I questioned my artistry. And to Eva Thomas, thank you, girl. Playing your pain made me process my own.“
She ended her speech with, “To my beautiful Black women and girls, take up space, be undeniable, create your tables, and fill those seats. When the tables are full, and those seats are full, make the table even bigger. So that the women coming up behind you never have to ask permission to belong.“

Photo: CBS
TAMARA HONORED THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HER AND HER MOM
Tamara Tunie received a standing ovation when her name was called after her win in an enduring career. Tunie began by sharing, “My heart is so full right now. This is the best welcome back to daytime ever, There is a host of Black actresses who paved the way for me, and I feel them as I stand here tonight, beginning with the legendary Cicely Tyson, the first Black woman to appear on a daytime television show, The Guiding Light.”
Tunie went on to thank her co-stars and everyone at Beyond the Gates and soap opera fans, plus getting to share the screen with the legendary Clifton Davis as Anita’s husband, Vernon Dupree. However, it was Tunie’s mother, who at 92, was with her on Emmy night that she thanked the most.
“There is one person who has been on this journey with me every single step of the way, who has traveled across states, countries and oceans to support my dream,” she expressed. “I would not be who I am as an actor or a woman without her love, support, encouragement and mere presence, She has been my example, my role model and my inspiration. I accept this honor on behalf of my mother … who, at 92 years young, crossed the country yet again to see me take this goal tonight. I love you, mommy!”
HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Make sure to join us in the live chat with your questions for Ambyr and Tamara in what is sure to be emotional conversations.
If you cannot be with us live, but have a question you would like posed to either actress, make sure to drop in the comment section below and we just might pose it during the live broadcasts.
So, were you happy to see Ambyr and Tamara win Emmy gold? What are your hopes for Eva and Anita as the holiday season approaches and with 2027 just around the corner? Let us know in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
Yvette Nicole Brown and Husband Anthony Davis Head to ‘Beyond the Gates’

Next week on the Friday, November 13 episode of Beyond the Gates, Yvette Nicole Brown and her real life husband Anthony Davis guest star. In story, Brown takes on the role of Temeka the cousin to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson Morrison).
When Temeka comes to Fairmont Crest she will be accompanied by her husband, Tony, played by real-life hubby Anthony Davis. The castings come as the soap opera continues to expand the family of Shanice. Previously, we met her brothers, Cedric and Lamont.
As Shanice gets ready to head down the aisle with Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) will the presence of Shanice’s family members actually deter the nuptials from ever taking place?

Photo: CBS
This now makes the third daytime drama appearance by Yvette Nicole Brown. She first popped up on The Young and the Restless in 2016 and 2017 as reporter Lois Thompson.
Then in 2023, she played a nurse on General Hospital when she appeared in the March 29, 2023 episode honoring her real-life friend, Sonya Eddy who past away in real-life in December of 2022, The soap honored her in death when her character, Epiphany died.

Photo: ABC
Brown and Eddy first met in 2003 while testing for an ABC pilot titled “The Four Divas” alongside Octavia Spencer and Carla Renata and became very close friends up until Eddy’s passing.
It was actually Brown’s character, who came forth to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and shared that Epiphany died saving her life which gave some sort of solace to Elizabeth; knowing Epiphany died doing what she loved, helping people.
As for Anthony Davis, not only is he an actor, but a writer and minister known for TV and film roles including: He Wasn’t Man Enough (2025), The Family Business: New Orleans, and The Upshaws.
Brown is also recognized from her roles on: Community, The Odd Couple, The Mayor, That ’70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, Mom, Big Shot to name but a few.
So, looking forward to see Yvette Nicole Brown and her real-life husband, Anthony Davis on Beyond the Gates? Happy to see more family members from Shanice’s life showing up at Fairmont Crest? Do you remember the heart-tugging episode where everyone learned Epiphany had died on General Hospital and Yvette Nicole Brown’s part in the story? Let us know via the comment section.
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