I guess by now you know why I wanted you to read TV Guide in January. I wasn't allowed to say anything until the news broke, but I can address it now! Yes, I am staying on the show. This decision is as surprising to me as it is to you. Someone told me once that God laughs when you start to
make life-plans. He must be having a good giggle now. But this letter isn't about me; it's about you.
As most of you know, I am a diehard fan of traditional soaps and the soap format! I grew up watching them and I love this medium. With all the other things that I have done in my career, I have continually migrated back to soaps. They are my passion. I like the consistency, the family feeling, the diversity of emotional work and more importantly, having a life in addition to a career. As a fan, I love the entertainment, the emotional pulls and the addiction that happens when a good story is being told and well-acted. I love the feeling when during the day, I'll cut whatever I am doing short to race back to the TV. The only difference for me over the years is the interaction that actors now have with fans. I never had that interaction growing up, or on my previous soaps. This interaction at first, made me uncomfortable. I believe in keeping the fourth wall firmly in place. The journey of the characters is the most important thing, not the actors' lives. But during my tenure on One Life To Live, I have been approached and befriended by the most incredible people. Angela Zilafro started a fan club because she wanted to...and with a rather reluctant actor. Because of her, the fan club grew. I started to meet the members down at Super Soap. You were all smart, attractive, fun people who used this forum to
find each other and share your thoughts and passions. Lifetime friendships were forged. (And a hat collection was started :-) ). Other fan clubs began, all rooting for different pairings, but all with
smart, funny and kind people. When you work on a soap, you expect relationships to blossom with your co-workers. Never did I expect relationships as deep and meaningful as the ones I found with all of you. I have always enjoyed our times together at Super Soap when names and faces would come together. Dancing with my male fans... and holding the littlest of fans..the babies. But this past year and a half was amazing.
I felt all of your frustration, your sadness, and your anger. But what was so unbelievable to me, was the outpouring of support for me, Hillary. You put smiles on my face during times when I was the saddest. Your generosities were limitless. And being true Nora fans, you put your feelings into actions, merged all of your fan bases and ...you wrote letters and more letters and more letters. You emailed and called and emailed and called. Denise organized an initiative and what was so wonderful, it wasn't just about me, but about your show! You did exactly what my character would have done. You fought for all those you felt you had been deprived of. You took a stand. I am sure that this effort on
the part of ABC to come up with a story had more to do with you than it had anything to do with me. You are truly brave and courageous. Those are two qualities I greatly admire. So regardless of whatever plans I may have had, there was no way I was going to take their offer lightly after all you had done. And it wasn't an offer to take lightly. It was four more years, a long time. But it was a story that I believe soaps are made of. There will be humor and romance and vengeance and that's
just with Lindsay! Ahahaha! Wait 'til I get near Phil Carey (Asa). I am excited about the possibilities and that's what they are. They are just possibilities for right now. We are all taking a leap of faith, but for me, because of you, the leap is well worth it! So hang in there and enjoy the ride. This one's for you!
With all my Undying Gratitude, Admiration and Respect,
Hillary B. Smith
PS: Because this love letter is just for you, I would appreciate it if you didn't post this on any other website, but direct people who wanted to read it to this place. This is just between us.
Smith Staying On OLTL
“I was going to leave,” reveals soap vet Hillary B. Smith, who originated the role of OLTL’s Nora in 1992 and won an Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy in 1994. The actress inked a one-year deal at the end of 2005 and thought that her Llanview days were done. “I had other things that I wanted to do, so I was really Zen about the fact that we had given it a year and that they couldn’t come up with anything and okay, time to move on,” she explains.
So, Smith was surprised when she got the call from an ABC rep. “She said, ‘We’d like you to stay for four more years.’ And they pitched me a story and I thought it was intriguing and interesting and thoughtful and I said, ‘Okay, yeah, I’d like to stick around to do that. That sounds like fun.’ It was very exciting and flattering.”
That fun story includes reteaming her with Catherine Hickland (Lindsay). “They’re going to revive the feud between Lindsay and Nora,” she reports. “That did it for me. If I get to work with my Puss-Puss again, I’m thrilled. Everyone knows that Catherine and I love each other and what’s better than seeing two people who love each other hate each other [laughs]?”
Phil Carey (Asa) will also be in the mix. “I love working with him and I love him,” she raves. “Talk about having a secret crush on someone. I have one on him. And I think he’s got one on me. It’s a mutual little fanfest we have going. He’s so wonderful; he’s the greatest curmudgeon in the world.”
As for Nora, Smith previews. “She is going to go in an interesting direction. This will be a clean slate for her She’s going to be a little different. I think it will be interesting how the story unfolds; it will make a lot of sense.”
Smith admits that the last year has given her a new view of the show. “I enjoyed the past year so much because it gave me a chance to really prioritize my life and to put the show in the proper perspective, which is, it’s work,” she explains. “I’ve had a lot of family issues, so it gave me the time to be close to home, which I’ve loved. When you’re working on a soap opera for as long as some of us have, you work more on being your character than you do on being yourself, so I’ve enjoyed going back to being me again.”
Smith says she’s thankful to her fans for the enthusiasm that they have showed for her alter ego. “They’ve been very sweet and very supportive, and it seems they’ve been supportive no matter what I did or where I went,” she notes. “I think this is a nice tribute to them, and I hope they enjoy the ride because I’m really looking forward to it.”
Soap Opera Digest
January 16, 2007
By: Denise Balcarcel
A new journey commences where one road ends, as 2007 extends its hand like a familiar friend. Yet instead of bringing daunting resolutions or usual indifference, it offers the incredible promise of Hillary for four more years. The New Year embodies renewed hope and sheer joy for every fan who wrote, called and prayed for the resolution we have now secured. In fact, the next four years truly represent a celebration of the heart and soul of what it means to be a fan. We have elevated fandom to a whole new level and redefined its very essence, and our cries were clearly heard and answered. We have collectively scored perhaps the largest victory in daytime history, because our relentless pursuit to turn last year around and reposition Hillary on the front-burner has morphed from feasible to real. Further, we have dispelled the myth that larger is mightier, and definitively proven that fan input moves mountains. The love, respect and admiration that we possess for Hillary has indeed shaped destiny. I can safely say this joyous news constituted a holiday blessing for each of us, and has firmly molded the bright start and bountiful promise of this New Year. So as we resolve to continue fighting for Hillary, ensuring her innumerable talents and kind spirit are both showcased and cherished, let us celebrate our victory and embrace 2007 with some fond well-wishes. The following fans generously wrote for our newsletter this month, and I am delighted to share their New Year’s wishes for Hillary with you.
Anabel from FL: “I wish Hillary the very best of health, safety and joy for 2007. She has given me the greatest New Year’s present ever, and my resolution is to continue supporting her in any way possible. I can never repay all of the happiness she has brought into my life, but I will do whatever I can to be the best fan I can be. On that note, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Nora after the incredible year she just had!” Carol from NH: “My New Year’s wish for Hillary is that 2007 surrounds her with happiness, health, peace and love. My holidays were brighter and merrier knowing that we would be blessed with her presence for another four years. This is truly the silver lining after months of writing and calling on her behalf, and I can’t express in words how grateful I am that her talents are being acknowledged and rewarded in this way. I cannot wait to see Nora back in full-force, and am so excited about what lies ahead for her character.” Carole from FL: “I wish Hillary all the love, health and prosperity that the New Year has to offer. She is a rare gem, and life just can’t be good enough to her as far as I’m concerned. I am so excited to see what direction Nora’s character will move towards, because there is much to be explored in the way of story for her. I am just so ecstatic that Hillary is staying with OLTL that I am beside myself! She is irreplaceable and gives me a reason to tune in, smile and be thankful for life’s treasures each day.” Cheryl from LA: “I wish Hillary joy and happiness, and also that she be surrounded by the love of family and friends always. I want her to know how much we love and respect her, and how thankful we are for the huge portion of her life that she has shared and will continue to share with us. I hope 2007 brings love and intrigue Nora’s way, and would be thrilled if Ty Treadway’s Troy were a part of the mix. Wait a minute – that’s my personal New Year’s wish!” Gia from MI: “I wish Hillary and her family all the love and the best of everything life has to offer. She is a force and we are lucky to feel her touch and presence throughout our lives. I can’t wait to see what this year brings for Nora, and rest assured that whatever it is, Hillary will have me mesmerized as always!”
Janice from MN: “I have so many New Year’s wishes for Hillary that I couldn’t possibly list them all, but I wish for her health and happiness first and foremost. I hope that her New Year’s wishes, whatever they may be, come true this year. No one deserves to have her dreams and wishes fulfilled more than she does. I hope to see Nora in the forefront of OLTL, being the loving mother, unbeatable attorney and best friend that sets her apart from any other character.” Joey from Toronto, Canada: “My New Year’s wish for Hillary is to be happy, healthy and surrounded by love of family and friends. I wish she could see the joy and excitement she has brought to me with news of her new contract. I never imagined starting out the New Year on such a high note, and I look forward to four more years of watching Nora experience the ups, downs and in-betweens of life and love in Llanview!” Karen from NM: “My New Year’s wish for Hillary is peace, happiness and contentment – and to make certain she knows how huge her fans are smiling and how grateful we are at this very moment. No amount of money in the world could equal the joy of knowing that justice prevailed after a long, tough road. I am eagerly awaiting Nora’s upcoming story, and am really looking forward to seeing her work with Phil Carey, Bob Woods and Catherine Hickland again!” Kelli from NY: “I wish Hillary smiles and laughter throughout 2007. I hope all her New Year’s wishes come true! I can’t wait to see what the year brings for Nora’s character, and I hope she gets the storyline of her life and that it’s one she can really sink her teeth into.” Lisa from CA: “I wish Hillary a very Happy New Year! I wish her much happiness, health and success in 2007. She gives the best of herself to us each time she graces our television screens, and for that, we thank her. I look forward to seeing much more of Nora in the coming year!”
Lizzie from WI: “I wish Hillary the most joyous, healthy and happy New Year! I hope it is one full of love and laughter for her and her entire family. I pray she knows how much her fans love her, and how thrilled we are that she is staying with the show for another four years. This is the happiest New Year’s gift I could ever receive, and I promise to keep writing on her behalf and fighting for both her and Nora’s character. My greatest wish is that 2007 makes all her dreams come true and that she is rewarded with an amazing storyline worthy of her many incredible talents.” Martha from FL: “I wish Hillary and her family all the best for a wonderful New Year! I never gave up on Nora returning to OLTL! I’m looking forward to more Nora in 2007 along with a Bo/Nora reunion that is long overdue.” Roxann from PA: “My wish for Hillary and her family are continued good health and happiness - that's most important. My wishes for Nora include a love interest, either with Bo or Troy, or even a mystery man who will sweep her off her feet and make Lindsay green with envy! I would love Nora to persuade Hank to return to the DA's office, so then she could run for and become Mayor of Llanview!” Susan from IL: “My New Year's wish for Hillary would be a four-year contract - oh wait…she's already got that! Hooray for Hillary and hooray for us! I wish Hillary all good things for 2007: happiness, health and lots of good friends to share it with! My wish for Nora is pretty much the same - happiness, health and a good brawl or two with Lindsay!” Tara from MI: “I wish Hillary the happiest New Year! I wish her my heartfelt congratulations on her new contract with OLTL, and sincerely hope that 2007 brings her all the best, both personally and professionally. It is my greatest desire that the New Year brings continued love, health and happiness to her and her entire family!” Terri from PA: “I wish Hillary lots of love, happiness and many martinis enjoyed with good company! May 2007 bring her a year filled with the joy of knowing she gets to do the job she loves and continue creating for the character she adores. I want to thank Hillary for being an inspiration, for demonstrating grace under fire, and for allowing her fans to contribute and support her in some meaningful way.
While everyone possesses a unique New Year’s wish for Hillary, a common theme prevails. Each of us wishes her the best that life has to offer, abundant love from family and friends, and continued health and happiness. We are so extremely grateful for this second opportunity, as it truly defines the spirit of the New Year. I predict that 2007 will be an incredible rebirth for Hillary’s fans, Nora’s character and OLTL as a whole. The next four years offer light where darkness once dwelled, and they truly are cause for celebration. Though much work still needs to be done, and while we must remain vigilant and steadfast in our efforts, this only serves to strengthen our resolve. The past year has taught us that persistence pays off, and that collectively, we possess the power to shape fate. One determined fan base rallied behind one incredible woman, and despite what were often bleak, uncertain and confusing times, beat the odds. These were seriously steep and seemingly unbeatable odds, yet we persevered and triumphed. We must hold onto that power and never forget what we achieved, and what we are capable of accomplishing while remaining unified and focused. While the next four years symbolize a continuation of the past fourteen, they offer a clean slate marked by growth, knowledge and opportunity. Simply put, we must use history as a guide to carve out future support efforts, and remember that proactive versus reactive is always the best approach. As we retire the past, celebrate today and anticipate tomorrow, let us toast to the past fourteen years that Hillary has reigned supreme in our hearts and in Llanview – and let us also toast what promises to be the first of another fourteen.
Hillary B. Smith (Nora) loves the on-screen friendship her character shares with Evangeline (Renee Elise Goldsberry). “My character never had a woman best friend,” Smith points out. “Nora’s best friend was always Bo. When things fell apart for her, there was no place for her to turn but to Bo. To have Evangeline for a talk-to is great and Renee does just lovely work,” Smith thinks the friendship rounds out both characters in a way the men in their lives can’t. “You can only talk that way with your girlfriend,” she insists. “It’s a from-the-heart, tough love. That’s the beautiful thing [Head Writer] Dena [Higley] has been doing. When they talk to each other, they talk with their hearts and their brain. Not just about events, but about the ripple of those events.”
July 26, 2005
