This has got to be frustrating for All My Children fans and especially fans of the character of Bianca Montgomery and the actress who played her, Eden Riegel.
The soap tells TV Guide mag that they plan to recast the lesbian heroine who married Reese (Tamara Braun) in a high-profile wedding that made soap history. But soon after, Bianca and Riegel were gone. Now the actress has been hired by CBS soap The Young and the Restless to play D.A. Heather Stevens. Her first episodes will air in mid-April.
“Bianca is so important we want her back on the canvass,” says an AMC rep. “We will spend time finding the right actress, then create a story.”
In an interview with TV Guide, Eden says of her new gig: “I’m excited to be at a place that’s really excited about me.”
Q. Meaning AMC wasn’t excited? When the show relocated to LA, where you now live, we just assumed you guys would work out a deal since it was so geographically convenient.
A. I understand the timing for this is a little odd, what with AMC moving here. And I do love that show! I grew up there and had an amazing experience but I’m an actress. I like playing different characters, especially somebody who’s a D.A. and sexy and conniving. I’m excited to look at those parts of myself and express them through this character. I couldn’t turn it down.
A. I understand the timing for this is a little odd, what with AMC moving here. And I do love that show! I grew up there and had an amazing experience but I’m an actress. I like playing different characters, especially somebody who’s a D.A. and sexy and conniving. I’m excited to look at those parts of myself and express them through this character. I couldn’t turn it down.
Q. Did AMC at least make an effort to get you back? Weren’t there conversations?
A. Oh, we’ve had endless conversations. I was actually speaking with them just six weeks ago and it kept not working out. And I was so very tempted by Y&R and the idea of a whole new experience.
Q. So no regrets about leaving Bianca behind?
A. I’ve played her for 10 years now and it really hurt me when I felt like I didn’t know my character anymore. I’m a really emotional person and maybe I care too much, you know? I let my emotions get the best of me. It was really difficult to feel like I was losing sight of who Bianca is. She was getting lost in the shuffle.
Q. But they fired the wacko head writer, Chuck Pratt, who did all that shuffling.
A. [Laughs] Yes, I understand they did. But there are just no guarantees. And at a certain point, it just worries me too much. It just really hurts. There is a lot of hurt. Y&R is a blank slate and a fresh start and there’s so much potential. I love my memories of Bianca, and I want to keep those intact. So that’s where I am. I’m really grateful AMC left the door open for me for so long. I guess I felt they weren’t as dedicated as they once were to seeing the character through. I hate to be so brutally honest about this. My fans have always been the greatest and incredibly supportive no matter what I do
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