Does anybody remember when Susan Lucci, who had graced our homes every day since 1970 on All My Children was nominated 19 times for an Emmy and only won in 1999??? Yeah, I remember that well. My childhood had a lot of Regis Philbin ranting about how ‘La Lucci’ had been robbed again. And upon going back and rewatching her scenes I concur!!! If there was any actress out there who could portray an excellent emotional meltdown, its Susan Lucci. She brought something to the soap landscape that hasn’t really been seen since.
A lot of actresses these days don’t go to the emotional depths that Lucci did. She really put her entire heart and soul into these emotional meltdowns. She was one of the best drama queens on daytime TV and I do not say that lightly. The only one I can compare on that level of performance is probably Bree Williamson formerly of One Life to Live. Anybody remember when Nash died and Jess screamed for days? But I digress. Actresses nowadays keep more of a stiff upper lip and don’t really embrace the more intensely emotional side of the craft, I’ve found. They always want to portray this facade of being a strong woman but… even strong women break down sometimes.
‘All My Children’ Spoilers: We Remember Daytime Legend Susan Lucci
More actresses these days should take the emotional chances that Lucci did. She wasn’t afraid to let her emotions show and really connect with the character. Sure, she wanted to be taken seriously as we all do but she embraced a more human side to the character, a more relatable side. Rather than the pearls and stiff upper lips she was all about feeling her emotions. Whether she was giving birth or letting everyone in the room have it at the woman of the year shindig it was always a truly heartfelt performance. I must admit when she broke down and cried at Gloria’s funeral, I felt that deep, deep within my soul and cried right along with her. She just wanted her Mom back. Sadly, the actress that played Mona Kane, Francis Heflin, played the role until 5 weeks before she died of cancer herself so there was no bringing Mona back.
She played a very realistic portrait of complicated grief which I don’t think most actresses do nowadays. It’s not that they are not capable but rather it is not put into the scripts that they have. No one really sees what that is like anymore because its simply not out into the scripts. Have to admit I haven’t seen a good old-fashioned Erica Kane style meltdown in YEARS and I would live for that! If someone out there would just embrace it.
‘All My Children’ Spoilers: She Was A Strong Woman!
Imagine for one second if Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) stopped crying and started giving Thomas as good as he dished out. Or if Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal) had a big sobbing meltdown over Ben while admonishing Grandpa Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) all the while. Or maybe someone on GH could have one of these meltdowns I vote Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) simply because she seems to have a lot of reasons that aren’t easily solvable and she has been through a lot. And if we just want a wacky, emotion-filled beatdown session then will the real Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stratford) please stand up? Strong women have breaking points people we should embrace them more often. Stay tuned!!!
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