Celebrating Beth Maitland’s 42 Years of Traci Abbott on Young and the Restless

Beth Maitland reflected on her iconic alter ego on The Young and the Restless. She loves that Traci represents the “normal woman” who touches fans to this day.

Traci’s Hot New Romance

In an interview with Woman’s World, Beth reflected on her character’s story arc. Traci went from being insecure to having a beautiful romance that’s played out on the screen. More importantly, she also became a best-selling author in her own right.

Traci’s story is far from conventional, especially in the soap world. It was important to have a relatable character on the show. Traci has gone through everything—from mental health struggles and body image issues to a heated affair and love triangles.

“The family had a cosmetics company, and here was this little round, plain girl, the youngest child,” Beth told Woman’s World. “She was always in competition with her beautiful older sister who went into the family business, where she didn’t fit.”

Beth is so proud of her character’s growth. She loved going through her ups and downs. “It has been my tremendous honor to play this very unusual character for all these years,” the Y&R star mused.

MORE: Learn these quick facts about Beith Maitland.

Looking Back at 42 Years of Tears

Who knew that Traci and Lauren (Tracey Bregman) would become best friends? There was a time when Lauren would relentlessly bully Traci. It was important for Beth to represent Traci’s story, especially when she struggled with her weight. “Seeing someone on television who wasn’t gorgeous, glamorous, and perfect and letting them know that it was alright spoke to so many fans,” Beth said.

She was touched by the outpouring of letters she received. One story still touches Beth to this day: when Traci lost her daughter, Colleen (Tammin Sursok). This storyline is still stuck in most fans’s minds. “It was 30 episodes of crying by the time that story ended,” Beth recalled. “It was exhausting, but people still bring it up today.”