Another World’s Anna Stuart Remembers Beloved Co-Star Anne Heche

Anna Stuart and the late Anne Heche played mother and daughters, Donna Love and twins Marley Love and Victoria Hudson, on Another World from 1989 to 1991. Sadly, Heche passed away on August 12 from injuries she sustained in a car accident. Now, Stuart is sharing with Soap Hub her memories of the dynamic Heche.

Anna Stuart Pays Tribute to Anne Heche

“[Anne] was so much more than a friend,” Stuart tells Soap Hub. “Soulmate comes to mind. She was one of the most important relationships I had in my life. We leaned so much from one another. Meeting Anne Heche was like being transported up to the Starship Enterprise into a new galaxy. She was like no one I had ever met. Her sparkle, her enthusiasm, and fierce curiosity made you want to stand close by, in the hopes that some of it might rub off on you.

“She affected everyone that way,” Stuart adds. “I saw that magic over and over again. We shared a close bond for many years. She is truly ‘dancing with the stars.’ Goodbye, my sweet friend. I hope to see you on the other side.”

Vicky’s Unscripted Slap

When Heche’s 1991 Daytime Emmy reel for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series was put together, it included, of course, scenes between Vicky and Donna. You can see Heche’s reel by clicking here. The winning submission starts with Vicky confronting Donna (Anna Stuart) over her sleeping with Jake McKinnon (Tom Eplin), Marley’s husband at the time. Donna tried to defend her actions, noting that Vicky had also betrayed Marley in the exact same way, but Vicky wasn’t hearing it.

Both actresses shine in these dramatic scenes. At one point, Vicky’s berating of Donna becomes too much, so Donna slaps her. Without missing a beat, Vicky slaps her mother right back. Heche’s decision to have Vicky slap Donna in return in the heat of the moment was, according to Stuart, unplanned.

Anna Stuart Speaks to Anne Heche’s Instincts

“The slap [back] was quite spontaneous on [Anne’s] part,” says Stuart, who applauds her scene partner’s choice. “It seemed only natural for her to follow her instincts to slap me back, and for me to say, ‘Don’t ever do that again!’ That was not scripted, but they liked it. We had many of those moments, but that one stood out. We surely did love working together. We were a good match.”