HOLLYWOOD—This week Susan Flannery, who portrays Stephanie Forrester on CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and Kathy Hays, who portrays Kim Hughes on CBS’s “As the World Turns,” both showcased so many emotions as their characters learned some startling news. Ms. Flannery and Ms. Hays are unstoppable, with Susan often compared to a force of nature as an actress, and Kathy, a solid and talented leading lady as well. As Stephanie learned that Liam was not her grandson, the peace and quiet lasted only a day before she found out her friend Jackie’s husband was unfaithful with Jackie’s own daughter-in-law, Bridget. Kim received devastating news of the death of her 91-year-old mother-in-law, then got even worse news when her son Chris announced he was dying of heart disease.

That said, who else but Stephanie can give Jackie advice about a cheating husband? Stephanie’s joy that Liam turned out not to be her grandson was eclipsed by her sadness that son Thorne really wanted to have him as a son. Stephanie kept her joy for the DNA test results turning out the way they did to herself, and gave her son Thorne a shoulder to cry on.

The next day she found out that her stepdaughter Bridget’s baby was not her ex-husband Nick’s child, but the child of Jackie’s husband Owen. Stephanie went into the mode she is know and respected for. She told Jackie to prepare to lose her younger husband, Owen to a younger woman, Bridget when their baby is born. She could not believe the woman she holds so much respect for is in such denial. Jackie and Bridget both got off lucky. No one got shot or slapped. Which is usually Stephanie’s modus operandi. Susan Flannery is a masterful thespian who is exciting to watch, and even more exciting to work with.

Kim Hughes is played by veteran actress Kathy Hays. Kathy was one of the only two of my late client Glenn Ford’s wives that I loved. MGM dancing queen Eleanor Powell being the other. However, as an actress there is no one with more expressive eyes than Kathy. She was wonderful this week as her character grieved the loss of her mother-in-law of decades, Nancy Hughes. Then Kim helped console her husband, Dr. Bob Hughes, who was the one who actually found Nancy dead in her senior apartment.

By Thursday Kim learned her son Chris has a serious heart disease. She was devastated as any mother would be. However, Kathy’s amazing intensity went from zero to ten like a rocket when she found out that Chris’s girlfriend Katie had been keeping his illness a secret from his family. “You can do something for me. Try to stay away!” That powerful line was delivered by a woman who knows all the right points to play as a great leading lady.

Both Ms. Flannery and Ms. Hays are what keeps daytime TV going so strong. “B&B” and “ATWT” both air weekdays on CBS.

 

Photographs are Courtesy: Susan Flannery by Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Productions and Kathy Hays by JPI Studios© West Hollywood