Interviews

Y&R’s Jason Thompson Talks On: The Self-Destructive Billy Abbott, Victoria, Phyllis, And Katie’s Disappearance

By Michael Fairman

Published

8 years ago

February 3, 2019

Michael

Photo: CBS

As February sweeps kicks in to high gear on The Young and the Restless, Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) and his ex-wife, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) are once again in each other’s orbit. First, Billy was not too happy to learn that his nemesis, Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard) shared some passionate kisses with her. In fact, he went running to Cane’s imprisoned wife. Lily (Christel Khalil), to give her the lowdown. Next, their child, Katie has gone MIA, but as viewers saw on Friday’s cliffhanger she is somehow heard singing through the walls at the Newman Ranch. Previously, Katie said she was playing with an imaginary friend, but someone is lurking around and watching the Newmans every move!

And let’s not forget, Summer (Hunter King) is back in Genoa City! The last time she hit town she all but destroyed Billy – his gambling addiction returned, she tried to seduce him, and he slept with her as revenge against Phyllis for her having sex with Nick (Joshua Morrow), and we could go on! After all the hurt, and the dissolution of their relationship, Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) and Billy are not seeing eye to eye on much, but saying they will try to work together. Can they?

To fill us in on all the drama, Jason Thompson chatted with Michael Fairman TV and weighed-in on: the future for Villy, Philly, what he has learned from working on two major soaps; General Hospital, where he played the popular Dr. Patrick Drake, and Y&R, his thoughts on his recent Daytime Emmy Pre-Nomination in the Lead Actor category in what was a banner year of storyline for him in 2018, and much more.

Insightful, driven, and talented, Jason is one of the standouts in our genre. Check out what he had to share below.

What did you think about the plot point that had Billy going to visit Lily in prison, and once there, he informs her that her husband, Cane has been kissing on Victoria!?

JASON: What I think about it is somewhat irrelevant. It wasn’t hard for me to rationalize it. In the moment, Billy was hurt and pissed off. He is irrational sometimes. Once he got to the prison, I think he second-guessed himself. Lily did a pretty good job of convincing him that she needs to know what is going on in order to just live in a certain amount of truth in this situation. Billy felt that it would be worse for her wondering what was going on on the outside without knowing the truth. I think that in that moment, he was convinced that telling her the truth was the right thing. There was a part of him that wanted to get back at Cane, and when Billy gets hurt, he seems to lash out a bit and then sometimes he kind of recoils. Could he have let it go? Probably. I think it’s an interesting thing for Lily and Billy’s relationship; to be honest. Billy has always respected Lily. I think that he’s always looked at Lily as someone who does the right thing, and was a good wife, and a good mother, and all of those things. He thinks that she is in a rough place and wanted to offer her a little bit of support, and that’s the way that he did it.

Photo: JPI Studios

Where do you think the show can go now with his relationship with Cane? They have been contentious all this time, anyway, and now this has happened. How do you think this will resolve, or would it ever resolve?

JASON: I think it’s one of the most interesting relationships Billy has. I don’t know that it will ever resolve. I don’t know that Billy thinks too much about Cane either way, but in saying that, there is still no one that can get under his skin and quickly! In an instant, Cane can be Billy’s enemy and I think that’s great. I always think there is story for Billy and Cane. In our working relationship as well, I think we both get a different energy out of each other that inevitably ends up in the characters. That’s always fun.

Photo:” JPI

How does Billy feel about Victoria now? She’s been struggling since her relationship with J.T., making out with Cane, etc.

JASON: Billy does have feelings for Victoria. I think it’s a number of things that contributes to this. I think it’s where he finds himself in his life. He has been kind of hurt by the woman he loved (Phyllis). He had everything for a moment that he wanted … he had the job, he had the girl, and if he had just done the right thing and had a little bit more self-control, he probably would have been in the best place of his life. So, when all of those things get pulled away, the one constant is just when he goes to see his kids and they smile, and they don’t know what’s going on in the outside world. I think the only people who don’t judge him are probably the kids. There’s something really comfortable about that situation. No matter what happens, there’s always going to be a little something with Victoria. She’s always very supportive (not that she hasn’t been very, very upset with him, at times), but there is always something about their relationship that will keep him wondering if they should be together. I think it will probably be like that for the rest of their lives.

Billy is still unaware that Victoria, Nikki, Phyllis and Sharon are all part of a cover-up in J.T.’s murder. How aware is Billy in the depths of the abuse Victoria suffered at the hands of J.T.?

JASON: There was never really a big realization about how dramatic, hurtful, and volatile the whole situation was. It was a shock to hear all of that obviously, but he has no idea about the depths of it all.

Photo: CBS

If he found out, how do you think he would react knowing what Victoria had gone through?

JASON: I think he would probably want to kick him again and then re-bury him. Billy has got a lot of flaws, but there is one thing that he will do, and that is always stand up for his family, and that includes Victoria.

Currently, it is just devastating for Billy when Katie goes missing. He’s like, “I can’t go through this again after what happened with Delia,” and I know you didn’t play the Delia material, because you weren’t on the show at that time. However, this does give you the opportunity to tap into all of that.

JASON: Yes! I mean, that is his biggest fear … going through all of that again. I think that he would rather not be on the planet than go through all of that again. What happened to Delia is never going to ever leave him. I can’t imagine that something like that ever really does. You just deal with it on a daily basis probably, and things come up, and you feel it all over again, and this is one of those moments.

Courtesy/CBS

I think that you being a father of two children now in your own life; really gives you a perspective when you play these things types of emotions and scenes out.

JASON: Definitely. Peter Bergman (Jack) and I were having a conversation about how much life and living, and trying to live a full life, really helps you with your acting. I work really hard on my craft, but the most important thing that I can do for my work and my career is live a full life. With the kids and everything else in my personal life, that to me is something that I can always draw upon. It’s hard to even let myself go there sometimes, because of how scary it would be. But yeah, I think Billy is not far off from that. That character has a lot of life and is tied to this volcano and it’s just waiting to erupt, and that eruption is good and full of liveliness fear, and anger. Some of that comes from hurt, and some of that comes from pain, and some of that comes from a good time, and some of that comes from addiction, and it makes it fun for me because there’s always something to play. When I talk about what I think of a particular story line, I don’t think of it as, “Oh, I would never do this,” or “I would never do that. That doesn’t make any sense.” I try and make sense of everything. That’s my job. I just try to find a reason why Billy would be in that situation; instead of trying to find a reason why he wouldn’t be.

Photo: JPI Studios

Would you say that the situation with Katie will draw Victoria and Billy closer together? At the end of Friday’s episode, they hear Katie’s voice in the wall, so they know she is alive.

JASON: I think so. One step up is often two steps back with them, but they are always connected in that way. The kids do that, and what they’ve been through in the past, and like you said, I wasn’t necessarily there for a lot of that, but it’s in this character. I would never say never with Victoria.

Photo: CBS

So, where is Billy at with Phyllis? You and Gina Tognoni played that coupling to the hilt and the show separated them. Major romances are never really ‘done, done’ on soaps.

JASON: I mean, it only gets worse with Phyllis. I’ll say that. They’re not in a good place. We have gone through some changes behind the scenes. So, I have no idea what is happening as far as storyline. I think there is always going to be something unresolved with Phyllis, but that’s the good thing about this kind of stuff. You can put these two people together when you have two actors who kind of embrace it, and work at it, and have a natural chemistry, which in turn helps the characters have chemistry. When Gina and I talk about what we did and accomplished with our characters, to be honest, it’s a little bit of a bummer that they are kind of apart right now, because we had a lot of fun. We really enjoyed working with each other. We felt like there was a lot more there to continue to explore, but like you said, it’s never over. As far as the way that he sees Phyllis … it’s interesting. I think as an outsider, he kind of looks at her as a selfish person who is going to get and grab whatever she wants, but I feel like he does understand her differently than other people do. I think he’s looking at Nick and Phyllis and shaking his head like, “You can’t be serious.” (Laughs)

Photo Credit: JPI

You have had quite a gold mine of leading ladies in your daytime career from: Kimberly McCullough (Robin) to Kelly Monaco (Sam) while you portrayed Dr, Patrick Drake on General Hospital, to Gina and Amelia at Y&R. I have to say that of all of the leading men on daytime, I think you’ve had consistently some major romantic kickass scene partners. What are your thoughts on that?

JASON: Yeah, I have been very fortunate. I can go back thirteen years now and talk about how much Kimberly helped me out in the beginning, and how patient, and impatient (laughs) she was in a lot of ways. Kimberly taught me a lot about how the business is, and to hold onto your values, and that it is very important to collaborate with your directors, and your writers, and your producers, and with other people that you work with. You then see new things. I’m constantly seeing things in other characters where I’m like, “That would be really interesting to shine a light on.” I think there’s something really interesting about Sharon (Sharon Case) and Billy. I think Billy could bring something out in Sharon that somebody else can’t. That’s what is exciting for me as an actor – trying to find something different and trying to bring life that is not necessarily there yet. I have had a lot of trust from writers, from producers, and from networks. I have been very fortunate in that way.

Hunter King has returned to Y&R as Summer. She played havoc in Billy’s life her last go-round. I know now she is currently after Kyle (Michael Mealor) and not after Billy, but does Billy blame her at all for his spiral back into his gambling addiction?

JASON: Realistically, if Billy were really being dead honest about it and trying to really work soberly in his life, he would say there’s nobody to blame but himself. There’s definitely that conversation that could be had between them about the situation that they found themselves in. They both hurt each other pretty badly, and the people surrounding them. I think there is probably a little bit of blame that can go around on both of them, but I don’t think he really sits back and blames her for falling back into addiction. She might have been one of the triggers, but I think that he was really responsible for that.

Congratulations on your Daytime Emmy Pre-Nom in the Lead Actor category! It’s quite a talented group of ten actors that made it through to the final round of competition. You certainly had a stellar year of material!

JASON: I had a ton of great storylines last year, and it just kind of kept going, and kept going One thing I will say that really helped me out is my relationship with Mal Young (Ex- EP and head writer, Y&R). We got along really well. He helped me out by letting me know six months ahead of time where we planned on going with the story. So, I was able to understand and slowly build the depths of hurt, and the gambling, and how it got further along, and the lies. I was able to understand where we were going and the plateau that we needed to get to, which was very helpful for me. I worked with amazing people constantly; every day was like something different. The hard part in this next round of voting is trying to find something that represents the whole year. When I look at that list of pre-nominees, I’m proud of the work that daytime actors do … everybody from a little bit of a younger guy like Billy Flynn (Chad, DAYS) to icons like Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R) , and Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH). What Maurice brought to my life as an actor and still does has been wonderful, and on the other side of that you’ve got Peter Bergman, who is like a real brother to me now, and we’re really close. It’s a nice comradery between everybody in the category. It’s a great group of people to be included with, and aside from the competition part of it, that’s the really cool part.

Photo Credit: JPI

So, let’s talk about your on-screen, mom, Jess Walton (Jill). I’ve heard you say publicly how much you really like working with her, and she with you. What can you say about when you do get some scenes with Jess, and get to play that mother-son relationship?

JASON: That’s another one that you can loop in with all of the other women I’ve worked with. It’s a different kind of relationship, but talk about a soap icon! Jess Walton is right up there. She’s a pro, and she’s got this little girl inside that is the sweetest thing alive, and her little giggle. I can say that relationship is just there with her. I would love for her to be there more. If there’s one person that can tell Billy to just, you know what, she’s somebody that can give him a little whipping, and he’d be like, “Okay mom, you’re right.” (Laughs)

Photo: JPI

Finally, you are on this juggernaut of a show that just celebrated yet another milestone, 30 years at #1. You go from a historic show like GH, to another here at Y&R that keeps celebrating these milestones that nobody will ever overtake. All of this has to be a ‘pinch yourself’ moment for you?

JASON: Yeah, I definitely pinch myself. I think at this moment, all four soaps that are left are having monumental anniversaries and celebrations, because the truth of it is, it’s really incredible what soaps have done in our history. With playing Patrick on General Hospital, I still look back on that time and that character, and am just so grateful that I was able to bring him to life. Every once and awhile I wonder what Patrick’s doing. On the other end of that, to come over to Y&R with a show that is now 30 years at number #1, and the pride that they have, and the support that they have from the network, there’s a real kind of challenge that we have in order to keep that up. It is not about the slogans, or the glitzy ad campaigns in the magazines that say, “Hey! We are #1 for 30 years.” While that’s very important, what’s more important are the people who have gotten us there for the last thirty years. We have to show them respect by doing the best that we can and continue that. That’s what drives us. You can feel it in the building. To take on a character like Billy, who has been a part of that for a very long time, there is a pressure that comes with that, but at the same time, there is an excitement of taking on this character and continuing to make him relevant, and a part of this great soap’s history.

So, do you want Billy to end up with Victoria, Phyllis, perhaps Sharon, or someone else? Who do you think has got Katie and is watching the Newmans? Are you rooting for Jason to receive a Lead Actor nomination for his work on Y&R in 2018? What do you think about the other sentiments shared by Jason in this interview, and what was your favorite part of our discussion? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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25 Comments

oldest

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Denise A Daniel

7 years ago

Billy & Phyllis belong together. Gina/Jason have palpable chemistry. They’re a team that can play the drama, the angst, the fire & the comedy. Whatever Victoria/Billy had is long gone. It left with Billy Miller. Villy now have a sibling vibe at best.
I really want Phyllis/Billy to be trapped somewhere just the 2 of them. Let them hash all their hurt & anger out without interruption then move forward together.

On a side not I’m pissed that Summer just continues to be a wrecking ball & she’s never held accountable. She callously set out to destroy her mother yet Phyllis is all hunky dory with her. That’s straight up BS.

Lisa Richards

Reply to Denise A Daniel

7 years ago

I have to agree, with Billy Miller gone, the chemistry is not there for Billy & Victoria. I’ve come to accept Jason as Billy but he clicks better with Phyllis than Victoria. I could possibty see him with Sharon but would love to see him and Mia bump boots!

Keren

7 years ago

Phyllis hands down. Billy and Victoria have a good co-parents vibe, and Phyllis challenges him. It was a mistake to break them up and I wish they would put them back together. Gina and Jason have off the chart chemistry.

GHYR1Days

Reply to Keren

7 years ago

Team Villy! Sorry, but Philly makes me sick

Sherri

7 years ago

Gina and Jason have the kind of chemistry you just can’t ignore. It’s like lightning in a bottle and, since they are both so talented in their own right, they would kill any storyline they were given. I am utterly baffled by the fact that the show chose to do anything other than capitalize on the Billy and Phyllis pairing. Billy and Victoria have been tried as a romantic pairing over and over again. It has never worked. They are great as friends and co-parents, but the Billy and Phyllis are definitely the money couple.

They are the reason I watch. If the new writer continues to push the current pairings, none of whom have the natural chemistry of Philly, YR will be a thing of the past for me.

Meg

7 years ago

Thank ,Michael ,love this interview ,Love Jason ,And the work Mal Young gave him this year .

Emily G

7 years ago

I’ve wanted Billy and Phyllis to be together since the affair. We were lucky enough to have them reunite, but they were never given a serious story as a couple. They should have had a real engagement and wedding. YR could have at least built them up before tearing tthem down. It’s insane to me the way Soaps just keep going back to the same tired pairings. Victoria and Billy have had multiple reunions with 4 different actors..enough! Philly was an original pairing with the original actors. Why not give them the story they deserve. Gina and Jason are just too incredible together onscreen.

Leslie

7 years ago

In the beginning I understood Billy and Phyllis hatred of Victor and their connection. I figured Villy was doomed to Victoria’s devotion to her father. Vic chose her dad! Philly got together. I hated them for what they did to Jack but they seemed genuinely happy for a time.It wasn’t long before all I saw was lust though. Billy is a gambler. Phyllis craves drama and excitement Billy was on a high that could only crash and burn in spectacular fashion and it did. For the record, Phyllis was already eyeing Nick before the breakup Clearly Billy had not been paying any attention at all. I’d rather see Shilly than Philly if I can’t have Villy for the long haul. Even on a soap, sexual romps with 0 substance gets old. Jmo!

April McKnight

7 years ago

PLEASE ! NO MORE of the Billy & Phyllis show . Billy & Phyllis DO NOT BELONG together PERIOD.

Rabiosa Maria

Reply to April McKnight

7 years ago

Billy is better with Victoria and they can talk like normal people.With Phyllis it’s always about sex and sex,nothing else

Elaine Oxford

7 years ago

Love Billy always have and Jason is doing a great job! Especially after Billy Miller who I adore so he had for me a hard act to follow, Burgess was ok but Jason is better, but the 6 years Billy Miller was there was my very favorite !

jtre

7 years ago

I love Billy and Victoria writers have really not given them a chance since Billy Miller left it would be nice to see how well Jason/Amelia can play Billy and Vicky in a romantic capacity. Phyllis is a great character but she should never be with Billy its wrong in every way.

Lew S.

7 years ago

Naw, it’s time for Phyllis to have a relationship with someone who is not an ex. Someone to challenge her and doesn’t have baggage with an ex of his own. I don’t think that character is currently on the canvas.

Jennifer

7 years ago

Victoria. Victoria and Billy will always be the loves of one another’s lives no matter how much the show tries to downplay it. So glad Mal got fired.

Kelsey

7 years ago

Victoria, But clealry Jason doesn’t understand their history at all. Makes me sad.

Jacquie Dalkins

7 years ago

Billy and Victoria are and will always be soulmates but it sounds like they’re not getting back together yet again. Just a long long five year tease. Sort of tired of it.

Rabiosa Maria

7 years ago

PLease no more Billy Phyllis,all they can do it’s calling sex ,I want my Villy back (Billy Victoria)for ever ❤️❤️And let them be happy ,wending 2019 and be happy with Katie and Jhonny

Margaret lonergan

7 years ago

Well hey why not give Sharon a chance with billy????? They might be a nice change!

Deanna Anderson

7 years ago

I always wanted to see Villy reunite. They are and always will be my favorite Y&R couple. Yes I’m all for Jason winning the lead actor award, He truly deserves it. I’ve loved him since his days on GH, but I love him more since playing this role of bad boy Billy Abbott.
Much Love to Jason Thompson/ Billy Abbott

Bahiya Harris

7 years ago

Billy is a HORRIBLE character!!! He never showed any remorse for what he did to his brother!! Any man that would really do that is a POS! He was just as much responsible for deilias death as Adam probably more then slepping with summer?? I bet the writers make sure Victor and Nick don’t learn of that

Jen

7 years ago

Jason Thompson’s departure from GH has left a continuous hole in the quality of the show. A big mistake in letting him go. None the the men on GH hold a candle to him (except Tristan Rogers).

Dana L

7 years ago

I miss Philly. They shouldn’t waste this kind of chemistry because it’s so rare. I wasn’t particularly happy with the writing for them during the last year because I would have preferred more depth for their scenes and storylines in general. But the spark, it’s always here!!! I hope we’ll see them sharing scenes in the future. It would be really sad if we didn’t.

Harry

Reply to Dana L

7 years ago

I guess they shared some kind of slimy chemistry but it never felt particularly warm or romantic. Their whole relationship was predicated upon deceit and for me, they were never able to wash the smell of that deceit off of them.

Harlee

7 years ago

Now that Jess Walton’s husband is through his health crisis YR, Sony, CBS should offer Jess a contract. Work around her schedule, if DOOL can tape 6 months in advance CBS, Sony & YR could work around Jess’s schedule. We need Jill on canvas big time stirring up trouble but also running CI.

Wendy

7 years ago

I love this Man. His looks remind me of the Hollywood legends like Gregory Pec. He’s so talented and so handsome. Any story line is good with him in it.

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)

Published

3 days ago

September 29, 2026

Michael

On General Hospital, as Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) has launched a music career alongside Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza), it was recently revealed that she actually has what seems like an “obsessed” stalker! How do we know? Well, there is a collage of the young woman that said person is continuing to add more photos to as the weeks and months roll on.

There have been several obvious suspects in the way GH has presented the characters. Chief among them music executive, Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) who continually has made statements and has been shooting daggers at anyone getting in the way of his prized recording artist.

At the same time the stalking started, Kai’s friend and former college football teammate, Quinn (Jequan Jackson) showed back up who previously had a falling out with Trina. Might he be playing nice, but wants revenge on Trina?

Photo: ABC

KEPT IN THE DARK

Fast-forward and now General Hospital fans learned that two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills is on her way back to the show as Heather Webber, who previously was known as”The Hook” killer at one point, and is the biological mother of Trina’s sworn enemy, Esme Prince (last played by Avery Pohl).

Esme perished went she went overboard with Trina’s boyfriend, Spencer Cassadine (last played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) a few years ago into the steely waters below. Could Esme be the one obsessing over Trina, or could it be someone else completely?

In a brand new video interview out on Tuesday, September 29, Tabyana Ali visited You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel and weighed-in on who she thinks could be the culprit! However, Tabyana shared she actually has no idea who it actually will turn out to be.

“The crazy thing is that everybody knows who it is except for me! They’re keeping that secret from me,” revealed Ali. “They want me to be as oblivious as Trina.”

Courtesy/ABC

THOSE WHO WENT OVERBOARD AND PRESUMED DEAD

After looking over the potential suspects and with all the theories that have floated about, Tabyana had her top picks! “I would love for it to be Spencer. I would love for it to be Esme. Mostly because I also just want my friends back on set, too. I would love to just see them and hang out with them. I think it definitely could be one of those two,” speculated Ali.

“I think everybody thought it could have been Quinn, or could have been Simon. I think we were all pointing in that direction for a minute, but I thinks that’s too easy”, declares Tabyana. “I think they’re just trying to throw me off, and trying to make it seem like it’s one of them. Now, nobody told me one way or the other about them.”

As soaps go, it’s usually not the first string of suspects who turn out to be the actual person behind the stalking. Tabyana agreed, “If you just know writing in general, if you just know TV in general, if you know soaps in general, you know that’s a game. You know, they set up, set up, set up, and then they really show the reveal. So. I was like, ‘This is just the setup to the reveal, right?'”

As for it being Spencer, it may not because his motives are bad. Ali shared, “It could be Spencer trying to fight his way back to Trina, or Heather trying to get revenge for her dead daughter Esme, or Esme herself. Those are all good ones, I was also playing around with what if it’s Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober)? That would be kind of fun. Don’t know what his motive would be. I know he passed away. He’s dead because of Joss (Eden McCoy), but it’s like everybody comes back alive on soaps, so…”

Photo: ABC

FROM KAI WITH LOVE

Some fans theorized it could be Trina’s boyfriend, Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) or one another option being that the real stalker takes him out. “I think that’s kind of happened to all of Trina’s boyfriends,” lamented Tabyana. “They’ve all kind of gone that way. So, hopefully it doesn’t happen that way. Would it be easier if Kai was the stalker? Okay, yeah, maybe. He’d go to jail for a couple months or whatever. Come on out and then what? He would had to have had a brain-eating amoeba that made him do it. Who knows?” (Laughs)

In the end, are Trina and Kai truly in love? Ali shared her viewpoint and gave a tease, “I think they have love for one another, but to love someone it does take gradual time. I think it’s getting to that point. I think with this music situation as well, it is really proving to Trina that Kai is willing to be there with her every step of the way.”

She continued, “He is supporting her 10 toes down, making sure that she has everything that she needs, to going to every live show. I think this portion of their lives will definitely guide them somewhere else. I think, an ‘I love you,’ might come just around the corner.”

You can check out the full conversation with Tabyana now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Then weigh-in, after hearing Tabyana’s thoughts on the matter, who do you think will be proven to be Trina’s stalker? Let us know via the comment section below.

Interviews

‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)

Published

3 weeks ago

September 11, 2026

Michael

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan) is heading into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys next month with a chance to win not one, but two gold statuettes to add to her collection of six!

Heather is once again a nominee for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, and for the first time a nominee as part of B&B’s writing team in the Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series category.

Currently, Heather is tied with One Life to Live icon, Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) as the actresses with the most wins in Daytime Emmy history. An acting victory by Tom would break the tie, although Slezak’s wins have all been for Lead Actress, while Tom literally grew up before our eyes over 35 years in daytime, and has won in all three actress categories: Younger, Supporting and Lead.

Photo: JPI

Whether Tom wins the gold this year, next year is looking even like stronger lock with Heather delivering some of the best work of her career, over the last several months. Who can forget Katie’s showdown with her sister Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) over the creation of her own fashion house named Logan, that slap from Brooke, and eventually being disowned from the Logan family by Brooke and their sister, Donna (Jennifer Gareis).

This fall, Katie is in full momma bear-mode and being overprotective of her son Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) heart and pocketbook. In story, Katie has a massive distrust of Melissa Dylan, who has made her move on her son, while Will is still trying to deal with the break-up with the love of his life Electra Forrester.

During a live chat this week on the Michael Fairman Channel, Heather opened up on a myriad of subjects, including why Dylan gets under Katie’s skin in such a major way, and what scenes earned her a shot at Lead Actress gold at the October 30th Daytime Emmy ceremony.

Photo: JPI

HEATHER TOM’S DAYTIME EMMY SUBMISSION

In daytime, Heather Tom does it all, she acts, directs and writes for The Bold and the Beautiful. When deciding what material to submit for Emmy competition with its eligibility rules of episodes from 2025, it relayed heavily on scenes with her longtime B&B scene partner, Don Diamont (Bill Spencer).

“I submitted material having to do with the Luna (Lisa Yamada) storyline and having to do with Katie and Bill. I love that Katie and Bill have been really trying to find their way back to each other for, honestly, five years. He’s been trying to woo her back. Katie’s been like, ‘No.’ However, they come together, especially over their son, Will (Crew Morrow) and they have a very real relationship-type of discussion. It wasn’t an argument. It was more about, ‘I know you. Don’t do this.’ That’s always kind of been Katie’s relationship with Bill. The scenes with Don Diamont were about Katie and Bill’s history, the pain, and the drama, and especially about their son, seemed very familiar to me.”

Heather added, “There’s also a couple scenes with Will and Luna, when Katie finds out that Luna is pregnant. Katie was like, ‘Nope! Our son is having a baby with somebody, and we’re going to figure this out. We’ve got means and the ability to do this. I don’t care if we have to take this baby away from Luna because she’s crazy, we’ll figure it out.’ They were some really good scenes that I felt very proud of. I thought to myself, “OK, this is Katie really taking a stand for her son, and having these conversations with Bill where I just felt they were real and honest.”

In conclusion to standing by her choices of scenes, Heather explained, “It was nice to see Bill and Katie operating as a parental unit and have her be like, “Yep, we’re not doing this. You know, you can’t force Luna to do anything, so let’s just figure out how we’re dealing with this.” Katie was kind of the adult in the room. Then, the scenes where Bill says to Katie, “You have to come back to me and I need you,” while Katie shed a few tears, she still didn’t take him back, not yet.”

Photo: JPI

DYLAN BROKE THE ‘GIRLFRIEND CODE’

There are specific reasons why Katie has it out for Melissa Dylan. In fact, Dylan went so far as to get her mother Darcy Dylan to town to shut down Katie’s suspicions of her, but it still isn’t swaying Katie away from her stance on the matter. Heather revealed how she is playing the scenes.

“So, here’s the deal. It’s multifaceted,” began Tom. “This girl pushes Katie’s buttons. She reminds her of her sister, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), and what Katie’s going through with her sister right now is very unpleasant. I think she looks at this girl and says, “This girl is going to crawl over anyone to get what she wants. And right now, she wants my son, and she’s willing to throw her best friend (Electra) under the bus.”

Heather also said, “Honestly, there’s something known as the ‘girlfriend code.’ Would you like to know what the girlfriend code is? ‘The girlfriend code’ is if your girlfriend, who is also your best friend, dates a guy and is especially in love with him, it doesn’t matter if you break up, that guy is off limits. You need to find yourself another guy.”

KATIE’S TROUBLES WITH BROOKE AND DYLAN MAKE HER TAKE A STAND

Katie clearly draws a similarity to her sister Brooke and Melissa Dylan which is also driving her attitude, which Heather confirmed. “So to Katie, it’s like Dylan broke that code. She is someone who follows her heart just like Brooke and leaves carnage in her wake,” said Tom.

She continued, “I think Katie looks at her and goes ‘Okay, one, you were living in your car. You didn’t call your mother who clearly loves you and ask her for help, but you were more than willing to take help from this, lovely rich guy.’ I think Katie feels like the fact that Dylan has been so expressive of how in love she is with Will, I think she finds that a little weird. She’s telling him that she’s e in love with him, and he doesn’t say it back to you. So, clearly he’s in not in love with you.”

In story, Katie can’t trust a young woman, who knows her son doesn’t feel the same way about her and yet is still hanging around. Heather shared Katie’s viewpoint to Dylan: “He’s clearly in love with your best friend. So, isn’t it a little unsettling that she kind of keeps saying she’s in love with him? So that’s my multifaceted reason why Katie doesn’t like her. It really has nothing to do with the fact that she came from humble beginnings because Katie did too. That being said, the Spencers are billionaires, so she would have to also look out for that. However, I don’t think that’s the main reason why she doesn’t like this girl or doesn’t trust her. I really don’t.”

You can check out the full conversation from our livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Now let us know, are you rooting for Heather Tom to win the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? What did you think of the scenes she submitted? Will Katie be proven right about Melissa Dylan, or will her distrust blow up in her face and she will wind up respecting Dylan when all is said and done? Weigh-in via the comment section.

Interviews

‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)

Published

4 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

Michael

Kelly Sullivan made her triumphant return to daytime on recent episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in her new role as Darcy Dylan, the mother of Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock).

In story, Melissa, better known as just “Dylan,” phoned home to her mother to come to Los Angeles, in an effort to calm the waters with Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) nosy mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), who doesn’t trust Dylan one iota.

Soap fans remember Sullivan from her previous Daytime Emmy-nominated role sas Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri on General Hospital and as Sage Warner on The Young and the Restless. During a livestream conversation exclusively on the Michael Fairman Channel, Kelly spoke about her time on GH and Y&R, and the wonderful co-stars she shared the screen with, and her excitement on her brand new role on B&B.

Photo: JPI

As to her thoughts on if Darcy will ultimately prove to be a gold-digger, opportunist, but still has a heart of gold (as we saw in recent scenes with her daughter, seemingly), Sullivan explained, “Characters like Darcy can be dangerous. I think Darcy is a survivor and she can charm. She’s a flirt. She knows what she wants. Darcy is self-made, according to her, and she made it.”

THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN DARCY AND HER DAUGHTER, MELISSA DYLAN

However, Melissa plays a big role in what’s next for Darcy! Kelly explained, “She’s got this beautiful daughter and that was her entire life who is now making her way. Let me tell you, I don’t know what Darcy’s retirement plan is, but one would assume she doesn’t have much savings. This is a great opportunity for her to connect with her daughter and get the lay of the land.”

Finding out that Melissa has been dating Will Spencer from the rich and powerful Spencer family in Los Angeles, while initially a shock, could prove interesting if the mother/daughter were to work together for a common cause, their survival.

Sullivan explained, “Darcy’s all about the tabloids and all about this life of illusion and the haves and have-nots, essentially. She would never shy away from an opportunity to see what’s around the corner. I think the interesting thing for me, that I’m excited about is to explore the dynamic between Darcy and Melissa and what is that going to become?”

From all accounts, Darcy is here to stay in Los Angeles, and fans will see much more of Sullivan on their-screens. “Darcy’s not going anywhere”, confirmed Kelly. “I always said to Sydney Bullock, Darcy didn’t buy a round trip ticket. If you think about it, Melissa could be her ticket. She might be Darcy’s only hope. There are serious stakes here if Darcy has been waiting for this moment.”

Photo: JPI

SHARING SCENES WITH HEATHER TOM

Last week, Sullivan had her first on-screen confrontation with Heather Tom. In the scenes, Katie was disapproving of Dylan and let Darcy know it. Eventually, Darcy takes Dylan with her to leave Will’s beach house apartment, but Will stops Dylan.

Recalling the taping of the scenes, Kelly said, “Heather Tom is a real special artist. In the story between Katie and Darcy, you’ve got momma bear and you’ve got momma bear. You can’t fault either of these women for how they feel, and how protective they are of their children.”

There are many things viewers and perhaps the writers have not totally fleshed out about the Dylans. Are their Dylan sisters coming, or to be revealed to rival the Logan sisters? Who is Melissa’s biological father? Plus, some more nuggets as Kelly revealed.

“I think there is a juicy, juicy story there of the Dylans,” previewed Sullivan. “It would also be interesting if they decide who Melissa’s dad is. Who is that? I mean, that’s interesting. You know, when I auditioned for this role, it said on the page that the character was charming, from the Midwest, and dance skills a plus. and I was a Broadway dancer. So, I hope this means there might be an opportunity to dance on the show at some point.”

Photo: JPI

DARCY DYLAN AND WYATT SPENCER PAIRING?

As for the men on the canvas, Kelly was asked what she thought of a potential Darcy and Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) pairing? To which she responded, “That would be so much fun. I’m such a fan of Darin’s work. Oh, I would have a ball working with him. One of the things that really excited me about Darcy when I was coming into audition for her was that they said that they wanted her to have a comedic sensibility, comedic chops as they said it.”

Sullivan concluded, “To work with Darin, I would be so lucky. He’s such a great actor and he’s got great comedic timing and he’s just really present and phenomenally talented. He’s a great actor, so I would love that. I mean, anyone on the show would be really fun. You throw it at the wall (in daytime) and say, ‘Is there a thing? Is there something here?’ Chemistry is chemistry.”

Now below, and in case you missed it, you can check out our full video livestream chat with Kelly Sullivan below.

So, what have you thought of Kelly’s performances thus far as Darcy? Do you think Darcy will turn out to be an opportunistic woman, but who deeply cares and loves her daughter, or will it turn out to be a ruse? Would you like to see Kelly paired with Darin Brooks on-screen as a love interest, and who do you think truly is Melissa Dylan’s biological father? Weigh-in via the comment section.