Soap Opera's Best Leading Ladies - TheIslandReader.com

We’re back talking about soap operas today. My love for this genre has been documented a bit on the blog. While I don’t watch it nearly as much as I used to, soaps still hold a special place in my heart. I’ve never watched soap operas for the storylines because let’s be honest, the storylines can leave a lot to be desired at times. I’ve watched soap operas for the TV characters that grace my TV screen every weekday.

So today I’m here with a list of what I feel are soap opera’s best leading ladies; because we know girls run the world and these women have been the anchor of many storylines in the past and NAILED IT. I grew up on soaps at a different time so remember that my list may be a bit different (which is a good thing I think).

Susan Lucci

You simply cannot make a soap opera list without mentioning the incomparable Susan Lucci. Lucci is the Queen of Daytime and she definitely earned that title. Lucci played the infamous Erica Kane on All My Children for over 40 years. Even if you’ve never watched an episode of All My Children or any other soap opera, you know the name, Erica Kane.

Debbi Morgan, All My Children

It’s Debbi Morgan, I really don’t have to say anything other than that. She’s best known as Angie Hubbard on All My Children. She and husband Jesse (played by Darnell Wiliams) are known as being the first African-American soap opera super couple. I wasn’t around for her first stint but when she came back to the show in 2008 I was already a fan of the soap opera and knew a bit about her character, so of course I fell in love with her work. I also consider her to be one of the top underrated actresses in Hollywood (I’ll expand on that in another post).

Tamara Braun, General Hospital, All My Children

Braun is best known to me as Carly Corinthos on General Hospital where she played the character from 2001-2005. I love all the women who’ve played this character but Tamara Braun is definitely my favorite. She’s just my favorite leading lady in soap operas period. A huge part of that may be the fact that when I really became an invested Corinthos family fan, she was in the role of Carly. It’s also a sheer testament to her talent. Braun brought a certain vulnerability to that character that was fascinating to watch. She brought it to every scene; whether it was confessing her love to Sonny at their wedding or her heart-wrenching pleas when their son Michael was presumed dead.

Special mention also goes to Nancy Lee Grahn, Victoria Rowell, Vanessa Marcil, and Alison Sweeney; while they’ve never played characters I liked, they are soap opera legends and should be recognized as such.

So there you have it: my list of soap opera’s best leading ladies aka my favorites! Where are my fellow soap opera stans? Let me know your favorites!

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Natalya

Natalya is an Account Manager by day and an editor and author's assistant to passionate creatives by night. When she is not adding to her enormous book collection or stationery supply, she is catching up on her favorite television shows.

Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.

You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.