NAME: Maura WestRANK: 29
SOAP ROLES: Carly Tenney, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1995-1996, 1997-present)
AWARDS:
2009 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
2008 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
2007 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress
2005 Daytime Emmy nomination for Special Fan Award for Irresistable Combination
2004 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
2002 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
2001 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Couple
2001 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
2000 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Young Lead Actress
1996 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villainess
COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): How is it possible that she only gets better and better every week, every month? Her ever sophisticated, gutsy and playful acting makes her the heir to the greatest female soap stars of the past. Carly on AS THE WORLD TURNS is practically my only daily daytime acting treat these days.
Roger Newcomb: Maura West makes any scene she is in better. She can elevate the material and elevate her acting partners. She had survived numerous changes in the writing team over the years and countless storylines that would make fans turn on any other actor's character. But somehow she can make Carly sympathetic no matter what. I've had the opportunity to watch her act live in person and it looks just like it does on TV - effortless.
COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:
Martha Byrne: (worked with West on ATWT) I think one aspect about being a professional actress in our generation is the multi-tasking that goes along with working in the craft. I admire Maura for so many reasons, as an actress and as a mother. Our work ethic is very similar. Work hard, give your best performance and go home to your family. Working with Maura is effortless. Her sense of humor and willingness to do anything has given the audience a character that you route for under any circumstance, that in itself is a talent, one that only a very few own. Maura is a star. Period. I loved working with her and I feel lucky to have her as a friend.
Tom Casiello: (wrote for West on ATWT) You can give absolutely anything to Maura, and she will not only make it "work," she'll make it "shine." Seven heartbreakingly mature scenes about the dissolution of a marriage? No problem. Wacky hijinx stoned in a faraway spa? Piece of cake. Throw her in quicksand, or throw her into a hospital petrified for her child's life - it doesn't matter. She's so committed to the work, it's astounding. A network executive once said that Carly Tenney is about three things: the man, the baby and the money. And she can never have all three at once. That's a through-line that Maura always plays, no matter what the storyline is - even all these years later. She knows that character inside and out, and she never strays from it. Truly a writer's dream.
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
