The Young and the Restless

Exclusive: Stacy Haiduk Talks Bringing Emily Peterson Back To The Young and the Restless

Published by

Michael Maloney

5 years ago

Stacy Haiduk has wrapped up yet another tour-de-force run as Kristen DiMera on Days of our Lives. While it’s possible she can return, there’s also the potential for her to pop up on The Young and the Restless once they resume production after social-distancing restrictions are lifted.

Stacy Haiduk Looks Back At Genoa City

As fans of the actress know, she played two (actually, three) different personas on The Young and the Restless. She debuted in 2009 as Mary Jane Benson, who turned out to be, in reality, Patty Williams, Paul’s (Doug Davidson) unbalanced sister.

After Patty went to an institution, Dr. Emily Peterson, Patty’s therapist, came to town to check on her former patient. The two women looked identical. The writers explained the similarities by saying that Patty had had plastic surgery to look just like her therapist because she had grown so dependent upon her.

One way to have characters keep their distance from each other is to send them into therapy. (It’s considered a no-no to have physical contact with your therapist!) Therefore, wouldn’t it be a great idea to have Haiduk return to YR as Emily, who could conduct therapy sessions (even remote ones) with characters?

“Oh, yes,” Stacy Haiduk tells Soap Hub when asked if she’d be open to a YR return. “Absolutely! [Laughs] Maybe Patty can dress up as Emily and start seeing patients?”

Recently, Mary Jane popped up on a classic repeat episode of The Young and the Restless. “I loved playing her,” Haiduk recalls. Count her among the performers who don’t watch themselves on TV. “I actually haven’t seen [those shows]. All I ever saw of what I did on YR was when I’d put my Emmy tapes together. I should probably go back and look at them especially now since I’m not married to it. It’s hard to watch myself [when I’m airing].”

As she has with Kristen and Susan, Haiduk loves all the characters and personalities she’s played on YR. “I loved those journeys,” she says. “I never watched my work because I thought if I did, I’d pick myself apart!” The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.