Created in the ’50s as a vehicle for advertising soaps and other household consumer products, soap operas are television shows characterized by melodramatic plots, conventionally attractive actors, and continuous, multi-year narratives. The Young and the Restless has been one of the most popular soaps on American TV since its inception in 1973, chronicling the lives and schemes of the residents of fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin. With the show’s popularity and longevity, it’s no hyperbole to name it a “cultural phenomenon”; heck, we wouldn’t be surprised if it has even driven up insurance premiums for the entire state of Wisconsin. In its nigh-five decade run, Y & R has introduced characters both good and bad, both wealthy and bankrupt; in this list, we’ll look at some of the most popular figures in the show’s long history, as well as a peek the careers of the actors who play them.
Melody Thomas Scott – Nikki Newman
Melody Thomas Scott launched her career at just six years old alongside Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie. Her most memorable role to date, though, has been as Nikki Newman, the exotic dancer-turned-wife of real estate titan Victor. Scott started a relationship herself (hopefully, less complicated than Nikki’s) with The Young and the Restless’ executive producer Edward J. Scott whom she met on set and married in 1985. A 2001 Soap Opera Digest Awards winner, Melody has also starred in network television shows like The King of Queens, My Name is Earl, and Castle.
Eileen Davidson – Ashley Abbott
Eileen Davidson came to The Young and the Restless in 1982 as Ashley Abbot, daughter of Genoa City matriarch Dina Mergeron. Although the character of Ashley enjoyed wide popularity with fans, Davidson left Y & R, hand-picking her own look-alike replacement. After a brief film career, Davidson returned to soap operas with a long-running gig on Days of Our Lives before bouncing back to Y & R to reprise her role as Ashley in 1999. Television viewers outside the soap opera community may recognize Eileen as one of the many credit card-toting real housewives of Beverly Hills on Bravo’s reality series of the same name.