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Woman's World
From John Stamos to Meg Ryan, 8 A-List Celebrities That Got Their Start on a Daytime Soap Opera
By Julianne MacNeill,
1 day ago
You know them from their hit roles in projects like Full House and Footloose , but before they were taking the lead on their own series and movies, these actors were just getting their foot in the door. And that door, for dozens of your favorite stars, led them into the world of soap operas, whether it was a two-episode arc or they were there for the long haul.
But even while they were making their way towards stardom, actors like John Stamos and Meg Ryan were still living normal lives.
Find out which of your favorite actors and actresses got their start on soap operas and see everything they had to say about the experience.
1. John Stamos
Soap Opera: General Hospital
Character Played: Blackie Parrish
What he said about it: “ I was on General Hospital for three months and still working at one of my dad’s restaurants. He wouldn’t let me quit… people were coming in and going, ‘Aren’t you the kid on [ General Hospital ]?’”
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3. Julianne Moore
Soap Opera: As the World Turns
Character Played: Frannie/Sabrina Hughes
What she said about it: “ When I was on As the World Turns , I was so excited when they wrote two parts for me. You know, the classic twin sister role, the good and the evil one, and I couldn't wait to do it and I was so excited.”
4. Meg Ryan
Soap Opera: As the World Turns
Character Played: Betsy Stewart
What she said about life as a soap star: “ Everyone was talking to me like they knew me … I couldn’t believe the number of women giving advice for my character. I had always taken the train, but then suddenly I was in people’s houses and famous. It was weird, like a smash cut to that moment.”
What she said about it: “ Being on All My Children , it was the first time I ever really felt accepted and that people felt I was good… It was just tremendous, the amount of education that I got from that show and the amount of experience that I got.”
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7. Ryan Phillippe
Soap Opera: One Life to Live
Character Played: Billy Douglas
What he said about it: “ When I auditioned , I had no idea Billy was gay… I thought, ‘What is my family going to think? What about my friends?’ But I realized that for Billy, the torment is a hundred times that… I realized that maybe this role is where I’m supposed to be. Maybe some kids will see that there are ways to deal with this positively.”
8. Anne Heche
Soap Opera: Another World
Character Played: Vicky Hudson/Marley Love Hudson
What she said about it: “ I played twins, and nobody believes that I was the same person playing the twins . So, some people just hated me and some people really loved me, which was so funny that I fooled them. And then some of them wouldn’t believe me when I actually said it was the same person and they wanted to figure out which twin I was,” Heche explained. “I would do 60 pages of dialogue a day between the two of them. That really trained me. That has benefited me more than anything I could possibly say. I wear it with a badge of honor.”
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