The Young and the Restless has revealed not only who’s behind Nikki’s kidnapping, but also who Claire’s aunt is. She’s Jordan, played by a familiar face among daytime fans. The mystery woman is being brought to life by actress Colleen Zenk, beloved for her 1978 to 2010 turn as Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns.
Colleen Zenk: From A to Zenk
The Bold and the Beautiful brought fashion as a backdrop to soaps in 1987. However, two years prior, Zenk’s Barbara developed her own fashion line titled Simply Barbara, and later, she created Barbara Ryan Originals. But what about Zenk herself? Here are some things you may not know about the actress who is making Nikki’s life a living hell!
Nothing Beats A Great Pair of L’Eggs: Zenk was born in Barrington, Illinois. She studied drama at The Catholic University of America. A knee injury altered her desire to become a professional dancer. However, that didn’t stop her from doing a commercial for L’Eggs in 1982. Check it out below!
Broadway Bound: Zenk has starred on Broadway with musical theater stars Chita Rivera and Donald O’Connor in Bring Back Birdie, the sequel to Bye Bye Birdie. On the big screen, Zenk appeared alongside Albert Finney and Carol Burnett (ex-Verla Grubbs, All My Children) in the adaptation of the musical Annie. The fan favorite has also been on stage in Follies and Hello, Dolly.
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An All-Star Cast: Zenk teamed up with a bevy of daytime stars for an NBC TV Movie (remember those?) titled Woman on a Ledge in 1993. The all-star cast included Deidre Hall (Marlena, Days of our Lives), Leslie Charleson (Monica, General Hospital), Peter Bergman (Jack), Michael Zaslow (ex-Roger, Guiding Light), Josh Taylor (Roman, DAYS) and Kale Browne (ex-Michael, Another World). The movie’s story dealt with three women facing turmoil, prompting one of them to contemplate suicide by standing on a ledge. (Spoiler alert! It was Hall’s character that was driven to the ledge!)
After the World Stopped Turning: Following ATWT’s cancellation after 54 years on the air, Zenk began exploring the world of Web soaps. She’s appeared on Thurston, Tainted Dreams, Milgram and the Fastwalkers, and After Forever.
Eye of the Tiger: Zenk is a cancer survivor. In 2007, she was diagnosed with oral cancer and underwent four surgeries. She went public with her battle by appearing on CBS’s The Early Show to talk about risk factors and promote early screening, helping to put a spotlight on the disease.
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