One of Beyond the Gates‘s most daring duos is Lauren Buglioli and Jon Lindstrom. Vanessa McBride and Joey Armstrong are fun, flirty, dangerous, and don’t seem like your average soap couple. She’s the real estate agent who’s currently trying to level up her business game. And he’s the corrupt casino owner who’s fallen under Vanessa’s spell, yet is reluctant to relinquish any more of his power. In October, Vanessa and Joey dealt with the emotional fallout of Doug’s death. The actors’ performances soared in their scenes opposite each other as well as in scenes with the rest of the BTG cast.
Key Takeaways
- Soap Hub names Lauren Buglioli and Jon Lindstrom as BTG’s October 2025 Performers of the Month for their sizzling chemistry as Vanessa and Joey.
- Buglioli delivered a powerhouse performance as Vanessa, balancing guilt, grief, and ambition while deepening her dangerous bond with Joey.
- Lindstrom made Joey both magnetic and menacing, showing how power, passion, and danger intertwine when it comes to Vanessa McBride and in his business.
October 2025 Performers of the Month
Vanessa and Joey are unpredictable characters. Buglioli and Lindsrom have an amazing way of bringing these vibrant characters to life.
Lauren Buglioli is Vanessa McBride
In October, Vanessa’s emotions ranged from intense to immense grief as she dealt with her husband’s death. The guilt weighed on her. After all, she was in bed with Joey when she had her last conversation with Doug (Jason Graham) before he met his end in a drunken one-car accident.
But she didn’t let that guilt define her. She had things to accomplish. She made sure her son returned to college. His presence meant she had to hide her double life with Joey. In the end, she wasn’t about hiding at all. She had plans to take her association with Joey to the next level. It wasn’t enough that they hooked up in beds and on top of casino poker tables.
And it wasn’t enough that they were in bed professionally, as she helped him launder money through her real estate agency. She wanted a bigger piece of the pie — she wanted a seat right alongside Joey. And so far, he’s denying her this one thing. Buglioli played all the required emotions so well, from grief to gravitas. Her performance consistently hit the right beats.
She was mesmerizing to watch as she kept Joey off kilter, clashed with Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix), who judged her relationship with Joey. The recent scene featuring Dani (Karla Mosley, who was BTG’s September Performer of the Month) and Vanessa, where Vanessa was finally able to open up about this thing with Joey, was so good. Vanessa remains unapologetic about this dangerous relationship that could end spectacularly badly.
Jon Lindsrom is Joey Armstrong
Meanwhile, Joey was the one to help usher Doug into the great beyond. He clearly wanted Vanessa all to himself. In October, he played that fine line of finessing Vanessa’s son, Donnell (Alex Cheeks), who wanted answers about his dad. Joey made it look like he felt for the teen.
He offered him a job at one point, admiring that he wanted to step up and take his dad’s place as his mom’s protector. But Joey ultimately wanted to be the one who took care of Vanessa. Dealing with Ms. McBride keeps him on his toes. She’s unpredictable even to him, and it’s fun to see how Joey continually has to change his tactics when it comes to her.
Additionally, Joey is increasingly interacting with the Fairmont Crest Community types, such as Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Joey is smart, observant, and completely diabolical. He has leverage over a congressman and won’t hesitate to use that weapon when it serves him.
And he isn’t afraid to exert control over his other weapons at his disposal. This month, he went toe-to-toe with Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik) and ensured the Chief of Police knew who the real boss was. Hawthorne wanted to be rid of the detective who answers to Joey. Joey said not so much. The man wins showdowns by hook or by crook.
And it’s because of Lindstrom that the character is so formidable. He is such a good actor. On General Hospital, he was believable as a psychiatrist and his sociopathic twin. And now he’s supremely believable as this shady, mob-like entrepreneur who is as unapologetic as Vanessa is. In fact, his move from GH to BTG was perfect.
Vanessa and Joey were made for each other. And Buglioli and Lindstrom make great scene partners.
