On the Industry
Spotlight On Susan Flannery
By Tommy Garrett
Jun 21, 2009 - 8:09:15 PM

HOLLYWOOD—When it comes to the many stars that I have written about, few have elicited as much admiration as actress Susan Flannery. Susan is one of the best actresses of our time. Her work is compared to greats like Bette Davis, Greta Garbo and Barbara Stanwyck. Susan has had a very distinguished career in Hollywood and she continues to perform as a professional on CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful.” She manages to make the most out of every scene she’s given and has made the role of Stephanie one of the most unforgettable in daytime history.

Photo of Susan Flannery Courtesy: Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Productions

But Ms. Flannery has appeared in many other things. The actress was the original Laura Horton on NBC’s daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” and long before she was winning hearts and Emmys on “B&B” she was doing the same on “Days.” Susan’s instincts as an actor are unparalleled and her strength in every role she plays gave me the phrase I often use about her, “Force of Nature.” She has maintained a level of professionalism and ability that has often been called by others, “Susan’s enormous work ethic.” Whatever it is, she craves perfection and has shown great abilities and craftsmanship in her career as an actor.

However, outside of soap operas Susan Flannery has had a very big career. I fell in love with Susan the first time I saw her on “Dallas” over two decades ago. Leslie Stewart was the character’s name on the series that she portrayed. In just under a dozen episodes Susan was able to garner more praise for the role than all other actresses who guest starred on the series. Leslie was a powerful public relations executive who did the unthinkable. Leslie outsmarted J.R. Ewing.

Susan Flannery has always played smart women and tough characters. None more shocking or brilliant as Lorrie in “The Towering Inferno” in 1974. Susan was amongst great stars like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain and had the honor of being the leading lady to Robert Wagner. Or shall I say he had the honor. It was after all Susan Flannery he was on screen with.

Susan won a Golden Globe in 1975 for her role as Lorrie in “The Towering Inferno” and became an international sensation instantly. Now she’s an international sensation on “The Bold and the Beautiful” as Stephanie. Four Daytime Emmys and a Golden Globe Award are not her only achievements. Susan has also received nominations for her directorial work on the series she currently stars on. She’s become known as a genius on the set for giving actors great direction in their acting scenes and has also taken her skills as an actress to many other television shows.

She has earned a BFA in theater from Stephens College in Missouri and did graduate work in theater arts at Arizona State University. She and best friend Ian Buchanan have also traveled to China, Egypt and Russia. Traveling is one of Ms. Flannery’s greatest loves.

Susan Flannery is as smart as the character she plays on “B&B.” But it is this character that has fans either loving to hate Stephanie or simply loving her. I am among the latter. I think Stephanie has been wronged by her husband Eric, her nemesis and perennial daughter-in-law Brooke and Brooke’s sister Donna. Stephanie has had to fend off the Logan women for years. She does so brilliantly and without too much bloodshed. A cerebral stroke or two later, Stephanie’s now using her business savvy to help Jackie M. Designs and Boutiques rebound in this awful global economic downturn. Every fan knows that Stephanie will prevail and bring the company not only back to its former glory, but to greater heights. Just as Stephanie does with everything else. And as Susan Flannery has done not only on soaps but the primetime hit series “Dallas” which she guest starred on.

But her turn on primetime television wasn’t only “Dallas.” In 2004 Susan guest starred on two episodes of “Hope and Faith” as Laura Levisetti. This series was created and produced by Flannery’s former “B&B” costar and longtime friend Joanna Johnson. This has made Susan one of the most versatile performers on the small screen. She’s done high drama and comedy. But it’s her work on CBS’s mega hit “The Bold and the Beautiful” that has brought the show to the peek of success. Bradley Bell on July 11 received the International TV Audience Award in the “Telenovela/Soap Opera” category. This is the fourth consecutive year for this award. Bell was flanked by Ashley Jones, Ronn Moss and Katherine Kelly Lang. But everyone knows that it’s the pairing of Bradley Bell and his acting muse Susan Flannery that has given the show the credibility and acclaim it’s currently receiving.

When we last saw Stephanie this week, she was torn between confronting her beloved son Ridge who she believes is taking pills in order to deal with the stress he’s facing over the loss of his daughter Phoebe and the affair his other daughter Steffy is having with his stepson Rick, played by handsome and talented Kyle Lowder, or keeping her mouth shut and watching his relationship with wife Brooke disintegrate. There is no wondering what Stephanie chose to do. Stephanie may be celebrating later in the month if her plan to permanently get rid of her daughter-in-law Brooke works. But whatever Susan Flannery is doing on screen, you will know that it’s entertaining and done with excellence.

Susan Flannery is perhaps the best actress on daytime television and in Hollywood. Miss Flannery deserves every bit of success she’s achieved. She continues to work hard to give fans the best acting and entertainment, which she and Brad Bell can be counted on to do. Susan Flannery is regularly chosen for the Gold Standard in Canyon News and this will probably continue as long as the actress is a standout amongst her peers in the industry.