HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, fans were excited about the great storyline that Maria Arena Bell wrote for her series “The Young and the Restless,” and for two of daytime’s most beautiful and talented actresses, Jess Walton and Tracey Bregman. It was a tough choice earlier in the week to choose the actress in daytime TV who showcased the most dramatic performance, but by mid-week there was no doubt that it would be Tracey Bregman, who portrays Lauren Fenmore Baldwin on the number one daytime drama. Tracey played every emotion within her comfort zone, and even joined the ranks of greats like Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis by going outside of her comfort zone to show us her character feeling betrayal, rage and confidence.
Maria Arena Bell is one of Bel Air’s most famous residents. She’s also the head writer and executive producer on the mega popular soap “Y&R.” Tracey has portrayed Lauren Fenmore for over two decades and has taken the exciting character over to “Y&R’s” sister soap “B&B” in the past. However, Lauren has come full circle. Earlier this year, Lauren was kidnapped by her perennial tormentor Sheila Carter’s evil sister Sarah. Then she recently found out that Jill Foster Abbott was indeed her sister, one she never knew existed.
Tracey has played Lauren with insecurity and a determination to get to know her sister Jill much better. Initially the ladies were trying to be friends, then in typical Jill fashion, she demanded half of the Fenmore billion dollar empire. “Hell no!” said Lauren. Then the fight ensued. On Tuesday in one of the best endings of any soap since Alexis Colby testified against her ex-husband Blake Carrington on “Dynasty” in the ’80s, in came Lauren’s mother with head held high to testify against her daughter. On Wednesday, Lauren looked on in horror as her mother called her, “a spoiled brat” from the witness stand.
Tracey played the scene brilliantly after she lost half of her fortune to evil older sister Jill, just outside the courtroom when she finally disowned her own mother. The pain and rage of being betrayed by the only maternal figure she’d ever had in her life was palpable. The scenes were written with great dialogue and high drama. Both Tracey and Maria (Bell) are on their way to getting an Emmy for “The Young and the Restless” for this very dynamic and exciting storyline, which is no where near its end.
“Y&R” airs weekdays on CBS.
Photographs Courtesy: Maria Arena Bell and Tracey Bregman by CBS/Sony Studios and “The Young and the Restless”
