Wednesday, January 13, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #32 Julia Barr

NAME: Julia Barr
RANK: 32
SOAP ROLES: Brooke English, ALL MY CHILDREN (1976-1981, 1982-2006, 2010-present); Brooke English, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (2005); Serena 'Reenie' Szabo, RYAN'S HOPE (1976)

AWARDS:
2003 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress
2001 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1998 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1994 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1993 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress: Daytime
1991 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime
1990 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1981 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
1980 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Damon L. Jacobs:  The elegant and gracious Ms. Barr always managed to portray the epitome of the every-woman audiences could relate to and root for.  She played a rational person dealing with irrational situations with such finesse that it almost was easy to forget that she was acting her heart out.  Her reality based style was a perfect balance and foil for La Lucci's exaggerated persona, and these two managed to keep the tension and energy between their characters vital for 30 years.  The disappearance of Brooke from the Pine Valley canvas was a slap in the face to audiences who had laughed and cried along with her, and symbolized the tail end of an era when ABC soaps attempted to appeal to independent women.  Is her rehiring on the show a sign of better days to come?  The only thing we know for sure is that Ms. Barr will take any material she is given and manage to make it meaningful, convincing, and underlined with a dry sense of humor.  I, for one, can't wait.

Roger Newcomb: Julia Barr brought heart to ALL MY CHILDREN for 30 years. The absence of Brooke in Pine Valley the past three years has been a significant blow to the show. Just seeing a glimpse of Barr on the 40th anniversary episode and a hint of the Brooke/Erica rivalry made me long for me. There is no better sparring partner for Erica Kane than the dynamic and beautiful Brooke English.

2 comments:

  1. I remember when Tom had to tell Brooke their daughter had been killed by a drunk driver. I was in college and in a common area, where people were eating and studying and the TV was on AMC. You could have heard a pin drop--even people who probably never watched soaps were riveted by Julia Barr's heart-wrenching performance.

    So glad she is coming back to AMC!

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  2. I stopped watching AMC about the time Julia left. I might have to check in to see her return. Loved those Brooke/Erica show-downs, but especially loved Brooke's friendship with Tad. Julia and Michael brought freshness and light to every scene. I've missed her. Such a classy, genuine lady.

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