Daytime Emmy winner Eileen Davidson has been a fabric of daytime television since her debut on The Young and the Restless in 1982 as the headstrong heroine Ashley Abbott. Now, Davidson is reflecting on how the topical storylines that the show once told truly impacted her life and the lives of the viewers.
Davidson is set to appear on the SOAPY podcast, with host Greg Rikkaart and Rebecca Budig, to discuss her time in daytime television, where she has appeared on multiple shows, including Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
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During the conversation, Davidson recalled how in 2002, her character of Ashley Abbott in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was diagnosed with breast cancer. “God bless the writers on the show,” Davidson shared. “They did a lot of topical stuff.”
The actress shared that soaps may not push as many topical social issues today, “but they did at that time,” she recalled.
Under creator and head writer Bill Bell, the series was known for telling hot-button storylines, such as tackling the AIDS crisis, or having characters, such as Ashley, have an abortion, in a time when that was not common practice.
Reflecting on the breast cancer storyline itself, Davidon shared that as it aired, she began receiving fan mail explaining that the story “saved their lives.”
Davidson shared how women began getting screened, and they were able to detect a lump or tumor early. “They’re still living because of it.”
Due to the show’s international appeal, Davidson continued to get fan mail for years from viewers as the show’s storyline continued to impact women around the world. “So you realize that what you’re doing, I mean, it’s entertainment and it’s fun and everything, it’s crazy and it’s a hoot, but you really are helping people on a different level that you can’t even really begin to understand,” she shared.
She explained that, as actors, and particularly soap actors, they get to help viewers in many different ways. “We help in many, many ways by entertaining, getting people through difficult times, kids through difficult times in their homes, their home life.” She went on to explain how she’s heard from fans in abusive situations where watching The Young and the Restless was described as “their one sanctuary.”
Ultimately, Davidson shares, “You know, to watch us and to be entertained by us, they felt safe. We were predictable,” and as a result, the connection that viewers feel to this genre in particular is unlike any other, and Davidson ultimately recognizes the value that the art form has.
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The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS and streams weeknights on Paramount+.
SOAPY stream on all podcasting platforms, with new episodes released on Tuesdays.