The Daytime Emmy folks got the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards off to an early start by announcing the nominees for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Drama Series on Entertainment Tonight last night. Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, who tackled an opioid storyline on The Bold and the Beautiful last year, has earned a nomination in the coveted category.
“It’s a thrilling, ‘pinch me’ moment especially as it was announced on Entertainment Tonight,” Wood tells Soap Hub. “I just got back from my maternity leave a few weeks ago and now I’m so honored to have received this news.” The other contenders in this category include The Young and the Restless’ Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) and a trio of General Hospital actresses — Genie Francis (Laura), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), and Finola Hughes (Anna/ex-Alex).
Wood and the BB team not only took on a challenging opioid story, but they did so upon returning to production last summer after a shutdown due to COVID-19. Wood and her BB colleagues explored this socially relevant tale while simultaneously figuring how to produce the show using safety protocols.
“This is a story that we needed to tell in 2020,” the actress adds, noting the rise in opioid fatalities. “We all know someone who suffers from some kind of addiction. I was inundated with so many messages on social media.”
Submission guidelines have changed over the years for actors vying for Daytime Emmy gold. In the past, actors would send in two complete episodes — even if their character wasn’t showcased prominently in every scene. In recent years, performers have been allowed to submit scenes from multiple episodes so that they can perhaps more properly tell a story to judges who will be viewing the submissions.
“I think it’s fairly new to do it this way,” MacInnes Wood muses. “I wanted people to see [Steffy’s journey] and tell that story.” She recalls that many of the scenes that explored Steffy’s stories were lengthy. “They were heavy scenes and had a lot of levels to them,” she says.
Wood’s TV grandmother Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie) began a tradition many years ago in which the previous year’s Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner would host a luncheon the following year for the latest nominees. Due to social distancing that was in play last year, Wood, the 2019 winner, who’s known for being an incredible hostess, understandably, altered her plans.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Wood says. “I was ready to go and take the girls out for a night and go into the wee hours of the morning. We did a Zoom, though, and it was great to see everyone.” The 48th Annual Daytime Emmys air on Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m. on CBS. The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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