The Bold and the Beautiful’s Sheila Carter arrived in Los Angeles back in 1992 after her run in Genoa City (on sister soap The Young and the Restless) had come to a climax. Daytime Emmy nominee Kimberlin Brown brought new vitality to the show, and thankfully, she’s still a presence on the canvas.
Kimberlin Brown – A Villainess With Longevity
B&B certainly had its share of antagonists prior to Kimberlin Brown’s arrival five years into the show’s run. There was Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery) and her machinations, Sally Spectra’s (Darlene Conley) unethical business tactics, and, of course, ‘Angela Forrester’ (Judith Borne), a money-hungry phony who pretended to be Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Steph’s daughter.
Sheila Carter, however, raised the B&B game to new levels. She wasn’t on the scene very long before she came upon a wandering Little Eric Forrester (Jeremy Snider), who had wandered off at Forrester Creations. Right away, viewers who were familiar with Sheila’s baby-swiping antics on Y&R got a chill.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Sheila — who might be okay to be around if she’s never tested or challenged ever — fell in love with Eric and married him. Lauren Fenmore (Tracey Bregman) crossed over from Y&R in a very organic way (Fenmore’s department store sells Forrester gowns). But Sheila got the upper hand by threatening to expose Lauren’s adulterous affair with Brad Carlton (Don Diamont — now B&B’s Bill Spencer). Brown’s Sheila has had longevity by knowing how to tip the scales in her favor.
Did Y&R viewers follow Sheila over to B&B? Our guess is a resounding yes as Lauren and Sheila’s first encounter shot the half-hour soap to the No. 2 spot in the weekly ratings for the first time ever in 1992. Sure, the encounter was a fantasy, but Sheila’s impact on B&B was the real deal!
Kimberlin Brown Always Brings Sheila Back
After kidnapping James Warwick (Ian Buchanan) and having a host of other crimes exposed, Sheila held the Forrester family, James, and Lauren at gunpoint before attempting suicide. She survived and managed to dupe a parole board into setting her free months later.
Kimberlin Brown plays Sheila as so damaged however, it’s usually only a matter of time before she feels that her back is up against the wall and she needs to commit criminal acts in order for her to keep what’s hers and to keep any detractors at bay. Heck, a few years ago we were worried for Quinn Fuller Forrester (Rena Sofer), who certainly knows how to take care of herself! Sheila has poisoned Stephanie and tried to drown her. We’re never quite rooting for her to fully do away with anyone, but we’re glued to our TV sets (and handheld devices!) as Sheila goes about getting what she wants.
Over the years, Sheila’s been sent away to jail or revisits her victims over on Y&R. However, she always ends up returning to B&B. It’s where she belongs. The essence of daytime drama is conflict and as long as Sheila’s on the scene, no one is ever going to feel fully safe!
The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Los Angeles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on B&B spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.
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