The Daytime Emmys will be held on April 29. Here, this year’s nominees open up to Digest about soaps’ biggest night.
Outstanding Lead Actress Nominees
CBS
Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R)
How did you find out about your nomination? “I got texts, and it was truly unexpected. I was reminded on the Monday before that the nominations would be coming out on Wednesday, but I still forgot, so the texts caught me off-guard. I asked if this was for Y&R or DAYS [ex-Kristen et al] because I honestly didn’t know.”
What scenes did you submit? “The show where Jack objects to Ashley’s paternity. She tells him that he’s a seat filler as CEO and nothing like their father. I also submitted a show about dealing with Dina’s Alzheimer’s. I didn’t do them in chronological order, more in order of the emotional punch. My husband liked that scene in the office with Jack, then I decided I needed to show a softer side, too.”
Is there anyone who you thought was overlooked? “I thought Bryton’s [James, Devon] work was really terrific, so I was disappointed that he didn’t get a nomination.”
Have you been thinking about what you’ll be wearing? “I have no idea. That’s another one that blindsided me because I thought I had a couple of months, but then I was told the awards ceremony is at the end of April. I haven’t been able to wrap my mind around it.”
ABC
Laura Wright (Carly, GH)
This is your fifth nomination. Does being in the running ever get old? “No! And it’s so awesome that there are three of us from GH in [the category] this year. I’m happy and excited. It’s so much fun to be a part of the process, to get to take my kids and put on a pretty dress and walk the red carpet with my boyfriend and see everyone from the other shows.”
What was nomination day like for you? “I had worked that morning and was back home relaxing with Wes [Ramsey, Peter] when Frank [Valentini] called to tell me. Nancy and Maura and I texted each other congratulations and after lunch, we poured a glass of wine. The next night, we went out to dinner with friends and celebrated with champagne.”
Do you get nervous in the audience waiting for your category to be called? “I think the nerves are about, ‘What if they call my name? That means I’ve got to get up. I hope I can walk to the stage!’ Listen, I’ve had my name called once and three times it hasn’t been called, but I’ve never left disappointed. I’m always super-happy for the person that won because I know how hard we all work.”
What do you most look forward to about Emmy day? “The whole getting-ready process is fun; picking the dress is not so fun! This year, I’ll be going with Wes, which is amazing; the Saturday before the Emmys is our first ‘date-aversary’. And I think my kids are coming with me again, as well. I can’t wait!”
ABC
Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH)
How did you get word of your nomination, and what was your reaction? “Frank called me. I saw his number come up on my phone and I thought I was in trouble, which is not uncommon.”
Who were the first people to congratulate you? “My daughter, and my boyfriend.”
What scenes did you submit? “The only scenes I had worth asking other people to have to sit through. It was slim pickings this year.”
Did you stress about your reel selection or did you know, “These are the scenes”? “See answer above. No and ‘These were the only scenes.’ ”
You’ve racked up many a nomination over the course of your illustrious career. Does it ever get old? What does the recognition mean to you? “No, it doesn’t get old, I do. And that is the relevant thing to me about these nominations. Not one of us is more special than the other, for sure. But to be kicking around in this genre for 31 years and still be in the game is a big fat deal, and I’m very grateful that it suggests that I’m still relevant. It’s good for me, yes, but more than that, I hope it gives hope to those of us in the last quarter of our lives, that the story’s not over, and better still, the best may be yet to come.”
Are you planning to prepare a speech, or to just wing it if your name is called? “I’ll have an outline in the one in five chance I win. It’s just good sense.”
NBC
Marci Miller (Abigail, DAYS)
How does it feel to get your first nomination? “Oh, my gosh, it’s so wild. I was totally shocked and did not see it coming. It’s such an awesome feeling to get to celebrate the fact that we all work so hard.”
When you started on the show, did you ever think that someday you could get an Emmy nomination? “I just was thrilled to get through the day knowing all of my lines. It was so far from what I was thinking. No, never in a million years and certainly not now.”
What did you submit? “I submitted an argument with Missy Reeves [Jennifer] about Dario leaving the country and everything. I submitted the vow/renewal breakup scenes with Billy Flynn [Chad]. I submitted the soliloquy during the Chad and Abby wedding where Abby runs down the aisle and punches Ben Weston in the face. I submitted scenes with Jordi Vilasuso [Dario] after Abby had just filed for a divorce.”
You are in a category with some pretty heavy daytime hitters! What do you know about your competition? “That they’re amazing! I mean, that’s the most humbling part about it; you look at the faces of these other nominees and they’re women that I’ve admired from a distance from when I first started working in soaps. For them to just know my name and know who I am? It’s crazy to me to think of us all in one category. I’m me and they’re them. They’re always going to be in a different league in my mind, but it’s cool to get to sit among them for a minute.”
Will you prepare a speech? “I guess I should. I really have no expectation of getting it. I’m just so honored to be nominated; that’s all I need. I would love to just cheer somebody on as they go up there.”
ABC
Maura West (Ava, GH)
How did you get the good news? “I was in my dressing room at the studio when my son texted me from school. Chloe’s [Lanier, Nelle] dressing room is right next to mine and we had scenes together that day, so we were able to give one another a squeeze.”
What’s on your reel? “I submitted scenes with Ava/Carly/Sonny in the warehouse leading up to the fire, scenes after the fire in the burn unit when Dante confronts Ava and when Ava ‘releases’ Scott. I also submitted scenes between Ava and Griffin in which Ava expresses her desire for Griffin and he basically shoots her down and she is crushed.”
Did you consult with anyone about which scenes to submit? “I depend so much on help from people I trust very much. My son Joe looked through a lot of material and I value his opinions more than I can say. Also I depend on Nneka Garland, a GH producer. She offers terrific insight and guidance. A real gem, that Nneka!”
Do you plan to prepare a speech? “I’m the type of gal who may have an idea about what I’d say … then forget it all.”
What are you most looking forward to about Emmy night? “I look forward to being there to support my castmates and I love the opportunity to see old friends, colleagues, actors from other shows that I’ve know for basically my entire adult life! I love Emmy night.”
What would taking home a fourth Emmy mean to you? “Character and story mean the most to me. I do so love Ava Jerome. I love being an actor. I put a lot of care into every scene. An Emmy, I think, would be an affirmation of that.”
