In the theater, many people play the same part as different incarnations of plays are produced and directed. However, that part and play has a beginning, middle, and end with actors not entering your living rooms every day. When a soap recasts, it needs to often fill some pretty large shoes. Sometimes, a recast is a disaster and sometimes soaps get it just right.
Here are Soap Shows’ picks for the 10 best soap recasts who have made the role their own.
OK, at the moment, he may only have memory flashes of being Jason Morgan and is about to remember a brief Jason Quartermaine moment, but Miller has made many fans (not all) sat “Steve, who?” Yes, Steve Burton will always be remembered as Jason Morgan, and we’re not downplaying his performance at all. We’re just saying Miller has created a new kind of Jason, which is his job as an actor, and he’s done it with finesse. We love him, his smiles, his performance, AND his chemistry with Kelly Monaco‘s Sam. What could be better?
After both Sarah Joy Brown and Tamara Braun breathed life into Carly, nobody thought anyone could do it better. And while we won’t say Laura Wright does it better, she does do it differently and has for ten years. She is the quintessential Carly, and we will always see her as such. She’s lasted in the role longer than any other actress and truly come into her own as a performer portraying this strong, sassy, flawed woman whose not afraid to take risks, and often messes up along the way.
It’s hard to remember anyone else played the great Kate, but it’s true. Deborah Adair originated the role and brought that elegant fire to Salem, marrying Victor as a single mother to Lucas–and then realizing Billie and Austin were her long-lost kids. We only saw Adair as Kate when Lauren Koslow took over the role, but in the years she’s brought Kate to life, we barely remember when she had another look and voice. This Kate is still sharp as nails, but somewhat softer. However, if you get in Koslow’s Kate’s way–and watch out Salem.
When DAYS chose to make Chad a leading man rather than a teen, they went to the right place. While we loved Casey Deidrick as the young Chad (who did indeed have a thing for a young Abby), to bring out his true DiMera elegance (and suave side), Billy Flynn fit the bill.
Chad and Abby have become “Chabby,” one of DAYS’ most popular supercouples. With Flynn’s talents and the character’s popularity, we can only hope Marci Miller’s Abby is as talented and memorable as Kate Mansi. and can slip into her shoes and continue the Chabby journey.
Tom began her daytime career as a young teen on “The Young and the Restless”, picking up Emmys along the way for her portrayal of Victoria Newman. Nancy Sloan originated the role of Katie, but Tom has played her for nearly a decade, making the character her very own. As she deals with her husband and sister betraying her once again, Tom mesmerizes us as the damaged Katie who just wants love.
While Fode has been in the role for under a year, he’s managed to make it his own in record time. Drew Tyler Bell and Adam Gregory formerly held the role of Ridge and Taylor’s son, but Fode has brought new dimensions to the character we never expected. His current feelings for Caroline take him from playboy role to leading man role, and we couldn’t be happier.
Believe it or not, Walton hasn’t always been Jill. Brenda Dickson originated the role when the show premiered in the 1970s and created a femme fatal to remember. Deborah Adair played Jill briefly in the 80s, but Walton made the character her own nearly 20 years ago and never looked back. She brought a maturity to the character without sacrificing her strong and sassy manipulative streak and in 2016, we can’t imagine anyone else as Jill.
Hartley had some mighty big shoes to fill when he became Adam Newman on Y&R, a role previously played with huge popularity by Michael Muhney. Adam returned from the alleged dead with a new face and name (Gabe), making it easier for Hartley to transition into the role. While Muhney only took over the role in 2014, he’s made it his own, creating magic with Melissa Clare Egan’s Chelsea and giving Genoa City a new supercouple.
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