Wednesday, January 27, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #12 Jane Elliot

NAME: Jane Elliot
RANK: 12
SOAP ROLES: Tracy Quartermaine, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1978-1980, 1989-1993, 1996, 2003-present); Tracy Quartermaine, THE CITY (1996-1997); Anjelica Deveraux, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1987-1989), Cynthia Preston, ALL MY CHILDREN (1984-1986), Carrie Marler, GUIDING LIGHT (1981-1982); Judy, KNOTS LANDING, (1980-1981); Madge Sinclair, A NEW DAY IN EDEN (1982); Linda Skerba, A FLAME IN THE WIND (1965)

AWARDS:
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Villainess
1993 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villainess: Daytime
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Villainess: Daytime
1989 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villainess in a Daytime Serial
1981 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): A hoot and a delight for thirty years of GH. Does anyone remember her shattering performance as Carrie Marler's dual personalities in the Doug Marland-written years of GUIDING LIGHT?

Lynn Liccardo: Seeing her name of the final list reminded me that I’ve always wondered how Doug Marland’s story for Carrie Todd Marler would have played out had GUIDING LIGHT producer, Allan Potter, not fired Elliot.

Nelson Aspen: She first came on to my radar as "Carrie" on GL. No one ever suspected she was the murderer of "Diane Ballard" which was a credit not only to the brilliant writing at the time, but her dynamic acting ability and chemistry with Jerry ver Dorn. Of course, now to me she is a guilty pleasure on GH and a treasured piece of that show's history.

Roger Newcomb: I loved GUIDING LIGHT in the '80s and her Carrie was a character I wish had stuck around longer. Anjelica was delicious on DAYS, and her Tracy on GH, well, is one of the most entertaining characters ever, thanks to Elliot.

COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:
Wally Kurth: (worked with Elliot on GH) What can I say about my mother-lover? Yeah, whether she's playing my love interest on DAYS or my overbearing mom on GH, Jane is one of those rare talents that brings out the best in you. Acting is a joint effort, despite the handful of narcissistic exceptions that seem to do just fine acting alone, so working with Jane just makes you a better actor. She has become a dear friend over years and still imparts words of wisdom that I apply to both my art and life. Daytime TV is better because of her.

Kin Shriner: (worked with Elliot on GH) Tough as nails but a great movie partner.

Robert Newman: (worked with Elliot on GL) Jane was one of the first to take me under her wing and generously teach me what 3-camera acting was all about. Watching her work was like taking a master class. Working with her (yes, we even had a bedroom scene once) was a gift. She taught me so much about both sides of the camera. She continues to be a great force in daytime.

10 comments:

  1. I missed her original run on GH, but loved her work as Carrie on GL. Was thrilled when she turned up as bitch on wheels Cynthia on AMC. One of the best, for sure.

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  2. Jane as Carrie on GL was run home from the bus stop, must see tv. What a great character and storyline. GL was so good back then.

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  3. Absolutely... I remember her as Carrie on GL!!! I agree with tweedle - "run home from the bust stop, must see!!!" (LOL!!!). Count me as one who had wished that s/l would have gone on much longer!

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  4. I was the same way with GL in the early 80s. Got off the bus at like 2:15 and ran inside to watch (it was on 2-3). :)

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  5. GH wastes her so horribly. I did love her work on GL. There's some on Youtube, as mentioned in the clips section, and it is so different from most of her run as Tracy. My favorite Tracy moments were on The City. She was superb on that show. The ending, where she becomes a mob boss, is classic. So were the episodes when she hired actors to play her family (the "father" was gay and kept making passes at Randolph Mantooth!)

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  6. She was wonderful on AMC, but she was Cynthia Preston Courtland. She was never a Chandler. Married Palmer, not Adam.

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  8. Growing up in the 70's & 80's watching GL, Jane's Carrie is one of those tragically short lived, yet iconic characters/stories that stays with you for a lifetime.

    Oh how I miss GL now. Like many of you I too ran home from school to watch it, videotaped it all through college, and this past year dvr-ed it every day for 9 months. *sigh* It’s so great to relive these memories with lists like these, reflecting on all these amazingly talented actresses. Thank you.

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  9. Jane Elliot's performance as Carrie on Guiding Light was the best acting ever done on daytime TV with maybe the exception of Beverly Mc Kinsey...Manhy of the other actresses mentioned are soap "stars" not real actresses and people there IS a big difference!

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  10. I love, love, love, Jane Elliot as Tracy! and am so grateful General Hospital is still on the air. I have been watching GH since 1964, and lately it is my ONLY required viewing. Not only do I watch it in the afternoon, but I can watch it (the rerun) at night on cable, the same show the next morning. WHO can get enough of General Hospital? NOT ME!, that is for sure.... and Tracy is refreshing, funny, irresistable in those long Oriental jackets- I make the short version- she wears so elegantly. and her hopeless in love with Luke has become very charming, especially showing up to save him lately. Love ya, love GH, love the show. Keep up the good work, Jane. ps. and your consistency with showing your love for Edward and soft spot for Monica is enduring. The writers are to be commended: from Steve Hardy, to Carly, to Robin & Patrick and adorable Emma, YOU are the BEST!! from Caroline Higgins of NYS

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