BEVERLY HILLS—Wednesday afternoon I caught up with my longtime friend producer, director and actress Lauralee Bell after she left CBS TV City where she has recently returned to the role of attorney Christine Blair Williams. Bell left the show several years ago to pursue other creative opportunities and succeeded by creating, producing, directing and starring in the acclaimed award-nominated Internet series “Family Dinner,” which also stars Emmy-winner Aaron Lustig, Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman and funny lady Phyllis Diller, who is a friend of Bell’s mother Lee Phillip Bell.
The highly anticipated return of Lauralee to “Y&R” is as big as the “Who Shot J.R. Ewing?” storyline was to TV viewers in the mid 80s. No kidding, Bell is very humble about her return, but she’s wildly excited about her upcoming storyline. Lauralee’s parents Bill and Lee Phillip Bell co-created “The Young and the Restless” over 35 years ago. The talented couple also co-created “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Although Lauralee is Hollywood royalty, she really is just a down to earth mother of two and wife to the famed photographer Scott Martin.
Bell tells Canyon News on her return, “Tommy, it really was like I had never left. Walking down those hallways I felt as if I had just been there yesterday! It is so much fun and exciting,” said Lauralee. The storyline for the beautiful actress’s return is just right. Maria Arena-Bell, the show’s talented and acclaimed head writer and executive producer has set up the entrance for Christine perfectly. Chris has been working in Washington D.C. as an attorney with the U.S. Justice Department. A case comes across her desk that makes her return home to Genoa City. However, the storyline is not just about a legal issue. Bell said, “It’s also about three friends. Paul [Doug Davidson], Nina [Tricia Cast] and Chris [Bell] have had a long relationship. Dealing with the idea of Paul and Nina being a couple, it will be very tough for Chris. It’s very emotional when someone has to realize that life didn’t stop when they walked away. Paul and Nina are a couple now and now my character will have to deal with it.”
Dealing with emotions is what “Y&R” does best. Since the days of the late great Bill Bell, Genoa City has been a hotbed of drama and intrigue. However, Maria has returned the show to its roots. She’s brilliantly talented and fans can expect a very exciting storyline surrounding the return of Lauralee as Christine. Things have changed for not only the characters of Chris, Paul and Nina. Chance is no longer a baby, but a grown man who is a Genoa City police detective, Daniel is all grown up with a mother Chris still does not like very well. Fans are really excited to see the most talented actress of this generation Lauralee (Bell) and Michelle Stafford as Phyllis, an Emmy-winner, work together again. The hatred between Chris and Phyllis is legendary.
Lauralee is open to the idea of staying around for a while. Her leading man Doug Davidson, who portrays private eye and ex-husband Paul Williams, tells Canyon News, “Tommy, I almost cried when I heard the news Lauralee was coming back. Now I have my lunch partner back! In all seriousness, a part of me has been missing and a part of Paul has been missing ever since Lauralee and Chris went away. Having her return is great, we are catching up and it’s back to old times again.”
Bell says the new faster pace in which soaps are filmed today has not been a problem for her so far. “I don’t mind doing things in one take. After working on ”˜Family Dinner’ I have learned a lot of what goes on behind the scenes and the importance of saving time, as time is money.” Bell’s return on Thursday, July 15 is much anticipated and viewers who are excited about it include former leading man Thom Bierdz, who portrays Phillip Chancellor III on the show. “Lauralee is one of the best actresses on television. Everyone is excited about seeing her again. She’s such a great actress, a sweet person and I am honored to call her my friend for all of these years. Lots of ‘Y&R’ fans have told me they are really excited about Chris returning. I’m one of them,” said Thom.
Lauralee Bell says, “It was comforting to return to the show. I can still feel my dad’s presence [Bill Bell, Sr.] on stage and as I walk down the halls and see his and my mom’s portrait on the studio wall, I wink at him every day, Tommy. I know he knows what we are doing. But I still miss him and wish he was here to enjoy this opportunity with me.” Still very much with Lauralee are, friend like me, her mother Lee, whose right down the hall from the “Y&R” offices, her handsome Emmy-winning producer and writer brother Bradley, who helms “B&B,” talented brother Billy who runs Bell Phillip TV Productions and daytime’s reigning queen of entertainment Maria Bell, who is her boss right now. Not to mention a handsome and talented husband and two beautiful kids in Malibu waiting for her return from CBS every day.
Lauralee is open to staying on the show for as long as she’s enjoying it and there is storyline for Chris. Viewers want to see the month or two stint last for years. “The Young and the Restless” airs weekdays on CBS. The series has been the number one rated daytime drama for over 21 years.
Photograph of Lauralee Courtesy Lauralee’s private collection photographed by the great Lesley Bohm and Lauralee and Ronn Moss (still) courtesy JPI Studios© West Hollywood
