They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but we wonder what good is a picture when you can’t recognize the subject? Above is a snapshot of a future star of soaps, but can you guess who this pig-tailed little cutie grew up to be?
Star Of The Soaps
Obviously this young woman (now all grown up) is either an alum of a long-ago classic – like All My Children or Guiding Light – or she is currently starring in, or is an alum of, one of the four remaining daytime dramas – The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless – but that’s probably not enough of a hint.
So try these on for size. Her first major acting role was in daytime soap opera. She is a televised talk show host. She starred in a primetime sitcom created by a former daytime performer. And she married one of her co-stars.
But just who can she be? Is this a photograph of Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan, AMC), Martha Madison (Belle Black, DAYS), Crystal Chappell (ex-Olivia Spencer, GL), or Melissa Ordway, YR)?
Martha Madison
Though she had a cameo role in the film Kate and Leopold and had appeared in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Passions, Madison’s first significant acting part was DAYS’ Belle Black.
However, Madison was the co-host of an Internet talk show – SoapBox with Lilly and Martha (featuring ex-General Hospital star Lilly Melgar and Soap Hub’s very own contributor Michael Maloney) – so she isn’t today’s featured star.
Crystal Chappell
DAYS served as Chappell’s first major acting triumph. And it was while appearing on that soap as Dr. Carly Manning that Chappell met her future husband, Michael Sabatino – who, ironically, played Carly’s abusive intended Lawrence Alamain. Alas, Chappell is not the answer to today’s identity query.
Melissa Ordway
And neither is Ordway. Although the actress did meet her future spouse – fellow actor Justin Gaston – during production on the 2011 film Escapee, Ordway has never hosted a daytime talk show nor has she appeared in a comedy created by a former soap star.
Kelly Ripa
She had been seen in series such as Dancin’ on Air and Dance Party USA, but Ripa’s big break came courtesy of her 12-year run on AMC. And though she is now recognized far and wide for her hosting duties on Live! with Kelly and Ryan (previously Live! with Regis and Kelly and Live! with Kelly and Michael), Ripa is still fondly remembered for her three-season stint on Hope and Faith, a sitcom created by former BB star Joanna Johnson (ex-Caroline/Karen).
So, if you guessed that the future star of soaps seen in the image above was Kelly Ripa – whose romance with AMC co-star Mark Consuelos translated into a marriage of 24 years and counting – then you were absolutely correct.
