HOLLYWOOD—This week’s Gold Standard goes to Trent Dawson who portrays Henry Coleman on CBS’s “As The World Turns,” and Jennifer Gareis who is Donna Logan Forrester on “The Bold & the Beautiful.” The two stars could not have had different storylines this week, but they both shined through the clouded emotions their alter egos were going through.

Trent Dawson Courtesy: TeleNext TV

Dawson who has been an Emmy nominated star of “ATWT” on multiple occasions is one of the most outstanding male performers in Television. The show is always at its best when Henry and Vienna are on the front burner. This week Vienna tumbled and lost their baby and it left Henry in a disastrous downturn. The character had previously stated that he never wanted children and then when he found out that his wife was indeed pregnant with his child, he simply fell in love with the baby, as he had been with Vienna.

Henry and Vienna had been hiding a secret from friends Brad and Katie and it seems that they had to lose the baby because they were being dishonest. But Vienna’s attempt at being upfront ended in despair. Trent Dawson’s Henry is one of the most interesting characters on the show, but Dawson proves that he’s multitalented because whatever emotion the actor is given to play he does so with aplomb and in great detail.

It’s a shame that Trent Dawson was not nominated for an Emmy this year, because his work is always award worthy. But be prepared for the emotional breakdown Dawson’s Henry is heading to. This is surely a star who knows how to play anything. And every twist and turn the writers have planned for him, Dawson is prepared to deal with. “ATWT” has a winner in this young actor. Mr. Goutman seems to realize it.

Jennifer Gareis, Donna Photo Courtesy: Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Prod.

Jennifer Gareis is far from the blonde ditz she often plays on “B&B.” Donna has dealt with a host of troubles since stepping into big sister Brooke’s shoes and taking on Queen Stephanie, taking her husband, her home and her business. But as everyone who crosses Stephanie finds out, it all comes with a price. With Bill Spencer in town, played by handsome and talented Don Diamont, it was only a matter of time before super scribe Bradley P. Bell decided to have the two cross paths. They did this week, with Donna confronting young Bill about his support of her nemesis Stephanie.

Spencer made Donna an offer she had to refuse. He wanted her! He is willing to give up his fight against Donna’s husband Eric if he can have her himself. “What?” Donna offered! Well, lets just say Bell’s dialog and descriptive style was well worth watching the show on Monday. Bill’s reference to Donna’s carpentry work left me in hysterics. You go, Brad!

But what will Donna do? Will she take Bill up on his sleazy offer? Will she go running to husband Eric for help? Will she call a truce with Stephanie? Or will she join sister Brooke in her online blog and battle Stephanie on her own turf? Whatever Donna does Gareis is able to convey a sensual and exciting side to it. Jennifer Gareis is an actress who has been given much to portray on both Bell soaps, “Y&R,” as Grace, and on “B&B” in this current role. She is a beautiful actress who holds her own in every scene she’s in and in every storyline she’s a part of. She sometimes is not considered a serious actress because she’s so beautiful. But if critics would have seen our Jennifer Gareis this week, gone would be any naysayer on the subject of this actress being handed the gold. Both Jennifer Gareis and Trent Dawson were performers who came through this week proving that daytime is the best.

Then there’s the primetime star that showed the greatest range of emotions this week. On Sunday’s episode of “The Tudors” we met for the first time the fourth wife of Henry the VIII, Anne of Cleves (Germany). Actress Joss Stone had big shoes to fill. Henry’s previous three wives were played by brilliant actresses and she had to come in and not upstage them, not be as beautiful or as worldly but also strong.

Stone’s portrayal was heart wrenching when she had to be violated by the King and treated like she was just a token or trinket of His Majesty’s. However, when it was time for Anne to stand up to Lord Cromwell, she did so with strength and yet holding her grace, she never lost her composure. These were very difficult scenes obviously for anyone to have to play. But Joss Stone did so with such ability. I was left gasping with awe of the grasp the actress had over her character.

The British born star even handled the German accent with great style.