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PROFILE

Melody Thomas Scott

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SOAP STAR STATS

Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R)

— CBS

Vital Statistics

Birthday:: April 18
Marital Status:: Married former Y&R Executive Producer Edward J. Scott in 1985.
Children:: The couple has three daughters: Jennifer, Alexandra and Elizabeth.

The 411

Melody Thomas Scott began her career at age 3 under the tutelage of renowned coach Ethel Meglin, who helped launch the career of Shirley Temple. Scott studied singing, tap, ballet and jazz dancing and became one of the "Meglin Kiddies," performing in U.S.O. shows throughout Southern California. At 8, she made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964). As a teen, Scott co-starred with some of Hollywood's most popular leading men, including John Wayne in The Shootist (1976) and Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry (1971). She appeared twice with Kirk Douglas, in Posse (1975) and The Fury (1978). In February, 1979, she joined the cast of Y&R, taking over the role of Nikki from Erica Hope, who had originated the character the previous year. After 20 years of guiding her character from stripper to socialite, Scott received her first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1999. She and co-star Eric Braeden (Victor) also received a special fan award nomination in 2002 for America's Favorite Couple. A five-time Soap Opera Digest Award nominee, Scott took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2001. Her other nominations include Favorite Actress (1999, 2000); Outstanding Lead Actress (1991 and 1995) and Hottest Female Star (1994).

Et Cetera

—Scott stands 5-foot-6 and has blonde hair and blue eyes.
—She attended University of Southern California, where she majored in music.
—She has a line of hair-care products for sale at the Soap Opera Store.
—In 1989, the Scotts co-founded Save the Earth Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating awareness about environmental issues.
—In 2002, Scott's life was the subject of LIFETIME's INTIMATE PORTRAIT.
—Also that year, she was found to have the No. 2 Q-rating (an index of a star's commercial value for advertising) on a list of 20 female celebrities, finishing second only to Julia Roberts.
—A lifelong I LOVE LUCY fan, Scott is a founding board member of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, which runs the Lucy-Desi Museum in Ball's home town of Jamestown, NY.

Career Highlights

TV Roles
PARADISE VIRUS (TV movie, 2003)
THE KING OF QUEENS (as herself, 2001)
THE NANNY (as herself, 1997)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (as herself, 1995)
HOTEL (guest star, 1985)
THE SCARLETT O'HARA WAR (TV movie, 1980)
THE ROCKFORD FILES (guest star, 1979)
STUDS LONIGAN (TV miniseries, 1979)
CHARLIE'S ANGELS (guest star, 1978)
THE WALTONS (recurring, 1977)
SECRETS (TV movie, 1977)
IRONSIDE (guest star, 1969)
Film Roles
Piranha (1978)
The Car (1977)
The Beguiled (1971)

Memorable Quotes

"I had a dreadful upbringing, but I'm not going to get into it. That's a whole book, which I will write someday."—Soap Opera Digest, 12/19/95

"What an ironic pleasure ... to finally win this [Soap Opera Digest] award in a year that it isn't being televised!"—Digest, from Scott's printed acceptance speech, 7/3/01

"A part of [Nikki] still wants to be Cinderella, to be rescued by a handsome prince on a white horse and live happily ever after. She will die a die-hard romantic."—Digest, 4/2/02