B&B’s Jennifer Gareis Reveals What’s on Her Daytime Emmy Reel

Jennifer Gareis is one of Bold and the Beautiful‘s most underrated actresses. However, her performance as Donna Logan, caught the eye of Daytime Emmy voters and now, the actress is sharing with Soap Hub what’s on her reel.

Devoted Donna

“The reel is heartbreaking,” Gareis shares with Soap Hub. “It includes Donna thinking Eric [played by Daytime Emmy-winner John McCook] only has weeks to live. It’s about their love story and having to let go. Thankfully, Eric didn’t pass away but having to say goodbye to him was pretty heartbreaking.”

Gareis says her reel doesn’t contain any humor given the storyline’s heavy material and the fact that her past scene partner Alley Mills (Pam; now, Heather, General Hospital) hasn’t been on the show in a minute. However, she does get to show dramatic range.

“Donna’s all over the place,” Gareis says. “She’s processing what’s happening. She’s trying to be his cheerleader. [My reel] definitely had a lot of beats. The episodes were very well written. There are a lot of different levels to it.”

Is Jennifer Gareis familiar with her fellow nominees? “Two of them were on our show!” she enthuses, referring to Courtney Hope [Sally, Young and the Restless] and Linsey Godfrey [ex-Caroline, B&B; now, Sarah, Days of our Lives]. “I love them. I’m really honored to be in this category — shocked, thrilled, and humbled, everything all at once.”

Gareis was able to bring realism to Donna’s concerns about Eric because she wasn’t 100% sure if McCook was truly leaving the show or not. “I never want to know anything,” she says. “Even if John knows a little bit of something, I don’t want to know. I like to be in the moment. If I know something next week is going to happen, it could affect what I’m playing now.”

That said, Gareis was hopeful McCook, an original cast member, wasn’t departing. “I wasn’t sure if Eric could be in a wheelchair or be talking through a portrait,” she muses. “Honestly, it was hard to believe that he would ever leave all together.”

Now, Gareis gets to dive into the fun stuff — like choosing a gown. “I feel like I want to get one made just for me,” she says. “That would be amazing.”

Whether she walks away with a golden girl or not on Daytime Emmy night or not, Gareis wants to make sure she hands out a few thanks. “Most importantly, I want to thank Brad Bell [executive producer/head writer] for having my back and giving me so many storylines and having faith in me,” the actress says. “Also, John McCook. He elevates me as an actress. I love him in front of the camera and behind the scenes, too. He’s a doll. And also, Eva Basler [VP Communications & Talent Relations, B&B]. She does so much for everyone.

“I’ve been in daytime for 27 years,” Gareis, who made her debut as Y&R’s Grace Turner 27 years ago, says. “There have been some breaks. I’ve played Donna [on and off] for 18 years. I’m so grateful to receive my first nomination.”