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
‘Beyond the Gates’ Set to Air Week of Encore Episodes

Next week, CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates serves up a week of repeats to shed the spotlight on some recent major episodes, in case you may have missed it, all before the 4th of July holiday weekend.
This is not the first time the newest network television soap opera on the block has aired a week’s worth of encore presentations. However this time, the episodes focus on the fabulous Cotillion storyline which is juxtaposed with the blood plasma ring warehouse shakedown which saw Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin) get shot and eventually die.
Also included in the week is Grammy and Tony Award winner, Jennifer Holliday making a guest appearance on the soap, and singing an original song from the series musical supervisors team during the Duprees Easter brunch, and more.

Photo: CBS
Take a look at the rundown of what you will see next week on Beyond the Gates below.
Monday, June 29
The Duprees get ready for Samantha’s cotillion. Jacob meets with Ren. Ashley is in a panic as Grayson prepares for the worst. Bill questions Hayley about her past. Lia puts Derek in the hot seat.
Tuesday, June 30
Grayson completes his assignment, but then all hell breaks loose at the warehouse. Samantha and Jessica make their cotillion debut while Nicole has to deal with an emergency.
Wednesday, July 1
Someone dies while a Platinum Deb is crowned. Vanessa questions Joey about the chaos of the evening. Tyrell and Jessica slip away for their first time together.
Thursday, July 2
Special Guest Star Jennifer Holliday sings for a friend. Nicole takes Kial to her family’s Easter brunch. Ted advises Carlton. Anita puts Anastasia in her place. Hayley feels like an outsider in a sea of Duprees. Grayson receives a threat. Naomi and Jacob find a way to connect.
Friday, July 3
Naomi and Jacob spend their anniversary apart—both remembering their love story from first date to wedding vows. Izaiah helps his brother out while Naomi leans on Ashley, Dani and Bill.
Beyond the Gates returns with all-new episodes starting Monday, July 6 where it will pick up right from where it left off following the Friday, June 26 cliffhanger.
So, from the encore episodes listed, which are you are you most enthused about seeing again, or do you wish there was no break from traditional all-new episodes? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Scores Third Most-Watched Week Since Its Premiere With ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event

The tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and put the lives of the characters of Beyond the Gates and several from The Young and the Restless in jeopardy had viewers tuning-in for the week of June 8-12.
The highly-publicized crossover event kicked off on the Tuesday, June 9 episode of Beyond the Gates where six residents of Genoa City came to to visit the D.C./Maryland country club for a fundraiser for Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon), only no one expected a twister to tear into the proceedings, leading to several storylines intersecting as people were trapped with one another with Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) being the most severely injured and now requiring a liver transplant to survive.
According to the ratings report from CBS and Nielsen ratings and as supplied to Variety, Beyond the Gates brought in on average 1.8 million viewers throughout the wee. That is up 11% from its season-to-date numbers and it makes the crossover/tornado episodes its third most-watched week for the soap since Beyond the Gates premiered back on February 24, 2025.

Photo: CBS
A GENOA CITY TOUCHDOWN
With the strength of the story, its special effects and bringing over cast of the top-rated, The Young and the Restless which included: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Michael Mealor (Kyle Abbott), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins), Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), the Thursday, June 11 episode was the week’s most-watched.
According to the numbers, the Wednesday June 10 episode brought in the most total viewers for the week with 1.87 million (up 17% week-to-week), followed closely by the Friday, June 12 episodes which had 1.84 million watching.

Photo: JPI
Over on The Young and the Restless, the week of June 8-12, also saw an increase based on the early return that week of Shemar Moore as Malcolm Winters wrapping up his leg of the story where viewers learned he had a son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) with Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), and survived his bone marrow transplant surgery thanks to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).
Y&R scored 3.11 million viewers for the week up 2% from its season average with the June 8 and June 9 episodes featuring Moore averaging 3.2 million viewers and up 9% year-over-year.
So, did you enjoy the tornado episodes of Beyond the Gates and seeing the residents of Genoa City crossover to Fairmont Crest? Share your thoughts via the comment section on the latest ratings for the two CBS daytime soaps.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?

Last week, viewers of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates watched as a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest. In its wake, people were trapped with one another or seriously injured.
For Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), she found herself stuck in an elevator with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). And wouldn’t you know, one thing led to another, and the two gave into their unresolved feelings for one another and did the deed.
Meanwhile, Dani’s current husband, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was worried sick in the ballroom because he had no idea where Dani was after the twister decimated the place. Eventually, Dani and Bill part ways go back to their families and act like nothing happened.

Photo: CBS
When Dani is reunited with Andre, he professes his love for her even more than ever. As for Bill’s current wife Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), she could care less because she was making out with Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor, Y&R) in a closet at the country club!
THE TORNADO MAY HAVE CHANGED DANI’S HEART
For months, Beyond the Gates viewers have found themselves torn; rooting for Dani and Bill to get over themselves and get back together, or rooting for Dani and Andre, because its clear he truly loves her, even though their marriage may not have started out as the greatest love affair of all time.
Karla Mosley opened up to PEOPLE on Dani’s romance plight and who the writers of the soap might ultimately pair her with, expressing “I cannot say. I honestly have no idea.”
As it seems now, this triangle of Andre/Dani/Bill is about to heat up even more following Dani’s elevator exploits. However, according to Mosley, the popularity of Dani and Andre came as surprise to the writers, which has led to the romantic drama. “The writers did not think Dani and Andre were gonna pop off the way that they did,” explained Karla. “Originally, they thought Bill and Dani would be back together by the end of season one. And then it was like, ‘wait, what is happening?’”

Photo: CBS
WRITERS ARE TAKING THE PULSE OF THE FANS
The decision to not have Dani and Bill reunite within season 1 or half-way though season 2, Mosley shares is a sign of the times: “The old soap trope is the torn woman who goes back to her man. But I think there are enough women now who are like, I want to see her win.”
In the end, Karla believes that in this case, fans speaking up, can also translate to the writers room and influence their potential decision of who should be the ultimate man for Dani. She tells Beyond the Gates viewers, “Keep talking about it, y’all.”
Meanwhile, questions remain: Could Dani and Bill’s elevator sex find her pregnant with his child, which would make this whole situation more messy? Stay tuned.
Now, let us know, who do you want to see Dani ultimately with … Bill Hamilton or Andre Richardson? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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