The Young and the Restless’ Melody Thomas Scott And ‘The Paradise Virus’

Melody Thomas Scott has been dedicated to her role as Nikki Reed Newman on The Young and the Restless for over 40 years! Occasionally, she steps away from Genoa City to take on new roles.

Melody Thomas Scott: Looking Back

Scott recently recalled her part in the 2003 film The Paradise Virus, which co-starred Lorenzo Lamas (ex-Hector, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Lance, Falcon Crest). In the movie, Scott plays a dynamic virologist named Linda Flemming, a woman who puts her Caribbean holiday on hold in order to stop the spread of a deadly virus that threatens the lives of many, including her own son.

Recently, Scott viewed the film while self-quarantining during the real-life coronavirus crisis. “Just the other night we watched a movie-of-the-week I filmed in 2002, The Paradise Virus,” Scott shared with TV Insider. “When we shot it, on an island in Turks and Caicos… the premise seemed so far-fetched, we basically treated it as science fiction. Fast forward 18 years later and the entire world is living it. I certainly have gained newfound respect for the script, written by Peter Layton.

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“We viewed it through Sling,” Scott shared, “but I understand it’s offered on many streaming services. If you have an hour and a half to kill… check it out. It’s very conducive to trigger games [of your choice] as the words ‘virus,’ ‘island,’ and ‘doctor’ are uttered frequently!”

Scott’s memoir, Always Young and Restless: My Life On and Off America’s #1 Daytime Drama, has had its release date change. “In spite of editing the manuscript several times, I am still finding things that need tweaking,” she says. “Due to delays we can thank corona for, the new release date is August 18, 2020.”

This week, classic episodes related to Victor (Eric Braeden) and Nikki’s romance continue, so stay tuned for old-time soap fun. The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.