Soap Fan Spotlight On…Donna Goldsmith
She’s the second most powerful woman in sports entertainment but also a self-proclaimed daytime “addict,” who pals around with soap stars and has even scored multiple gigs as an extra. Digest chats about soaps, both in the ring and on the screen, with Donna Goldsmith, COO of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.).
Soap Opera Digest: So, how’d you become such a big fan of soaps? Did you grow up with them?
Donna Goldsmith: You know, it’s so funny. I watched when I was younger: I remember the Luke and Laura wedding [on GH] like everyone. I think I was in college during that time. But what really turned me on as a regular viewer was I got a really bad strain of the flu in 1989, I think. I was home and out of work for about 10 days. And when you’re home, what do you do? You watch TV. I started watching AMC and GH and I became addicted. I loved it! I loved the soap opera world and loved that it took me away from the trials and tribulations of my daily life.
Digest: Speaking of your daily life, you’ve made a career in sports entertainment, specifically the NBA and WWE, which is also basically a soap opera. They’re both scripted and similar in several ways. Did your love for daytime influence your decision to work at WWE at all?
Goldsmith: A good part of it was that, and [that] I saw they have a terrific business model and some good executives. But what got me up here was only my love for soaps! I don’t think I would have taken the initial interview if I didn’t watch the programming and was so taken by it! I never thought I’d work for WWE, but when I started watching the show in preparation, I realized that it was a soap opera! Long story short, I’ve been here 10 years now! The whole thing is very funny.
Digest: You mentioned you mostly watch AMC and GH. What’s your favorite soap storyline right now?
Goldsmith: Definitely the whole James Franco thing [on GH]. I’ve been watching and I’m riveted! I’m just captivated by him.
Digest: Are you ever compelled to offer input regarding WWE storylines? Or have you ever seen a plot on daytime that you would love to see play out on one of your programs?
Goldsmith: Well, I have lots of ideas, but since I am the COO, they say stick to your day job, and the creative people will stick to what they do best!
Digest: Let’s talk about the coincidence of becoming pals with so many stars and how you landed roles as an extra on AMC, GH and GL.
Goldsmith: Probably around ’96, I was outside Madison Square Garden waiting for a [NBA] client, and there was someone standing next to me who was getting surrounded by women. I see that it’s Cameron Mathison [Ryan, AMC] and he’s not bad to look at [laughs]! And all these people are calling him, “Ryan, Ryan!” and he’s so polite and so lovely and signing autographs. I walked up to him and said “Hi, you’re Cameron Mathison!” and he probably thought I was going to be some crazy stalker fan. I said, “My name is Donna Goldsmith and I’m an executive at the NBA. I must tell you that I am a huge soap fan. I work in sports, day in and day out, but I absolutely love soap operas.” So we chatted for a little while and he told me he was a big NBA fan and I said ‘Well I’d love to invite you or anyone you want to come to the games to be part of our celebrity All-Star events.” After that, I did hook up with him and offered him tickets to the show and he and Josh Duhamel [ex-Leo, AMC] ended up coming with me to several games. Cameron was so lovely and said, “What can I do? I want thank you for taking me and Josh and my friends to these games. Do you want Susan Lucci‘s autograph?” and I said, “What? No, but I’d like to be on your show!” He said, “You’re not kidding!” About six months later he hooked me up with the head of casting and they gave me an extra role! I was in a scene with Kelly Ripa [ex-Hayley]. I’m actually looking at a picture right now that I took of Mark Consuelos [ex-Mateo, AMC], and Josh Duhamel, and Cameron at one of our events. They had no clue what our events were all about!
Digest: You mentioned several soap stars are WWE fans who come to various events, but which one is the biggest fan?
Goldsmith: Lawrence Saint-Victor [ex-Remy, GL] is the biggest fan that I know. I took [him] to WrestleMania and then he said, “Oh Donna, I want to do something for you!” and I said, “Well, I want to be on your show.” So he hooked me up with casting there and again I was able to get another part! I was sitting at a table at some restaurant with my fake husband…. And the next thing you know, I have a part on GENERAL HOSPITAL! I was in the Metro Court with Carly, Alexis and Jerry Jax.
Digest: Have any other stories to share?
Goldsmith: Before I knew Cameron, I was very friendly with a woman who happens to be Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s [ex-Kendall, AMC] mother! All this is, again, very random. And then a couple years ago, she [Gellar’s mother] called me, and said, “You’re never going to believe this, but someone you know is coming to work for your company.” I said, “Who?” and she said, ‘Freddie Prinze. He’s going to be a writer.” Well, the next thing you know, Freddie Prinze, who I also knew, was working at WWE! Freddie Prinze was a writer [for WWE programming] and is a big WWE fan. So, I just sort of happen to have a lot of interaction with the soap business.
Digest: So many of our readers would kill for your kind of luck!
Goldsmith: I really have to say that this job has allowed me to be involved with so many different aspects of the entertainment business. I feel so blessed and so lucky to work here, because not only is it a wonderful environment, but it’s given me the opportunity to go beyond what we do here every day. I don’t really get starstruck, but I love soap operas, I love theater, I love wrestling … I’m eclectic! I don’t watch any other programming besides WWE and soaps. It’s such a way to escape from your life and I adore them.
WWE’s annual live pay-per-view Summer Slam event is taking place at the Staples Center on August 15. For more information, including how to buy tickets, visit https://ss10.wwe.com/main.html.
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