Soap Hub Performer of the Week for Young and the Restless: Amelia Heinle

While it may be true that Victoria Newman is her father’s daughter, she has taken a very different stance when it comes to Ashland Locke, a media mogul, who has been diagnosed with an illness that will likely kill him. The Great Victor Newman might not shed a tear if Ashland were to die but Victoria is doing her very best to make sure that the man she’s quickly grown to care for stays alive. For her performance as a savvy businesswoman who is also a loving person, Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors for The Young and the Restless on Victoria’s portrayer, Amelia Heinle.

Amelia Heinle — Performer of the Week

Over the last several weeks, Victoria has grown closer to Ashland (Richard Burgi). He’s taken her into his confidence about his illness and she has supported him as he grapples with his mortality. Along the way, they’ve talked about business and how his company can live on after he’s gone. But this isn’t just a business deal for Victoria. She knows Ashland cares about his work.

Not that long ago, Victoria was using her own children — Johnny (Holden and Ryan Hare) and Katie (Sienna Mercuri) — as pawns with Billy (Jason Thompson), clearly jealous that he’d moved onto a new relationship with Lily (Christel Khalil). This new dynamic paints the character in a different light and Heinle is delivering poignant performances as Victoria is showing how devoted she can be.

Using his platform as chief of ChancComm, Billy’s now the one sticking his nose in his ex’s life albeit indirectly. This has only fueled the budding Victoria/Ashland romance. “This is just Billy being Billy to try to teach me a lesson,” Victoria mused to Ashland. “He warned me I was courting disaster by getting involved you with.” Ashland picked up on her cue and asked if that’s what they are — involved?

“I hope so,” Victoria softly responded. While interacting with Ashland started out as a business arrangement, clearly, Victoria has taken this dynamic to a new level. She’s gently urged Ashland to seek treatment for his condition but he has firmly refused. The media exec told Victoria that he’s not going to attempt to prolong his life and asked her to understand; in fact, he insisted on it.

Ashland told Victoria that she may have Victor’s cold-blooded business instincts but conceded that her wanting him to stick around was something very different. Nonetheless, she accepted Ashland’s terms that she no longer push him towards getting treatment. Heinle’s eyes began to well up as she realized the man she’s grown to care for may not be around much longer.

Victoria’s softer side is left behind as she encounters those she holds responsible for making Ashland’s life more difficult namely, Billy and Lily. Running into Billy in the lobby of the Grand Phoenix Hotel, Vicki blasted her ex for sticking his nose into Ashland’s personal life. She had no interest in listening to Billy’s side that, as a public figure, Ashland’s health is news.

Next, she confronted Lily at Crimson Lights and strongly suggested that she put a leash on her boyfriend. The jealous ex, who Victoria was playing not that long ago, is gone. In her place is a woman determined to stand by Ashland, a relative newcomer who has become very important to her. Will she regret this choice? Stay tuned.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers.