The Young and the Restless

Avant-garde: Bold and the Beautiful Star Anna Maria Horsford on Her Lovely Life

Published by

Shado Saeyang

9 years ago

As a chatty woman of the night in the John Hughes classic, “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Bold and the Beautiful” star Anna Maria Horsford purred to Andrew McCarthy, “This secret of yours: is it a big secret, or a little secret?”

The term avant-garde denotes someone or something that experiments with new and unusual ideas. Coincidentally enough, it aptly describes Horsford’s (Vivienne Avant) life and her approach to it.

Horsford grew up in New York City, attending the prestigious La Guardia High School of Performing Arts, according to the April 19 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Her first acting job came soon after graduating. Despite the 100 big and small screen credits she racked up in the years to follow, Vivenne Avant on B&B holds a special place in her heart.

Horsford’s first soap role was on “Guiding Light” where she played Clara. A role intended to last only a handful of episodes went on for much longer because of Clara’s chemistry with her best friend. A less-than-friendly co-star, envious of the screen time Horsford got, once slapped her so hard in a scene they had together, it made Horsford’s ear ring! The two made up soon after though.

Her GL role thrilled her mother, who never missed an episode of the long-running soap.

Playing Maya (Karla Mosley) and Nicole’s mom on B&B brings Horsford seems to bring the actress a special joy and gratitude. She and co-stars Obba Babatunde (Julius Avant), John McCook (Eric Forrester, Sr.), and Alley Mills (Pamela Douglas), form a circle of tight-knit friends. They regularly gather in McCook’s dressing room to share stories from their many years in the business of show!

“Who would have thought this little girl growing up in Harlem, who loved fantasy, could ever have a life like this…I constantly walk through life with a smile on my face,” Horsford told Digest.

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