EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Lee Grahn’s Surreal Daytime Emmy Nod News

Nancy Lee Grahn was over the moon when Soap Hub contacted her for a reaction to her Daytime Emmy nomination, but not for the reason you would expect.

“Right when I heard [the news], a whale jumped up. I’m not sure which I’m more excited about,” she gushed.

The General Hospital actress was outside watching whales, enthralled as they put on a show seemingly just for her.

“They came out to congratulate me. It’s all connected — I’m so excited. They really did come out. I’m like a whale whisperer; they’re my spirit animal.”

Grahn wasn’t kidding. As the call continued, she would periodically let out an excited gasp, running closer to see them. “There’s a bunch of them, and they’re really up close.”

But, whale watching wasn’t the only thing on her mind.

After all, she hasn’t been to the Daytime Emmys since she won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2012. (Her first win in the same category was in 1989, in which she tied with Debbi Morgan from All My Children.) So does this nomination feel any different than her previous ones? (In addition to her two wins, she’s been nominated six other times)?

“Yes, different because I haven’t been given anything huge to do in 10 years. So I haven’t really submitted myself — certainly not as lead, so it’s a nice validation for me and for the writing. It was nice of Frank [Valentini, GH executive producer] to pull me out of my menopausal haze, and Jean [Passanante, co-head writer] and Shelly [Altman, co-head writer] gave me great stuff to do so I feel very fortunate,” she added.

“It’s a great group of women, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Those other women include Gina Tognoni (Phyllis) and Jess Walton (Jill) from The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie, The Bold and the Beautiful), and General Hospital co-star Laura Wright (Carly).

She certainly had a plethora of material to choose from, considering all that Alexis has been through this year, especially being held at dagger-point by her own husband.

The Daytime Emmy Awards will be held on April 30 at the Pasadena Convention Center in California.

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