Some of daytime's most talented actresses popped Champagne and celebrated the genre this past Friday during the annual Leading Ladies Lunch, in which the previous year's winner of the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series hosts a luncheon for the current year's Lead Actress nominees.
The Bold and the Beautiful's Heather Tom (Katie Logan) was awarded the coveted statue in the category last year, and thus, the now-six-time-Emmy-winning actress was the host of the 2021 event, which included Lead Actress nominees Genie Francis (Laura Collins, General Hospital), Finola Hughes (Anna Devane, GH), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, GH), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester, B&B), and Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Newman, The Young and the Restless).
"It ended up being a dinner this year," Tom shares with Soap Opera Digest. "Finding a time where everybody could get together was not easy, but it never is. These are very busy ladies. We did find a time, but it just meant we had to have it at 5 o'clock rather than a luncheon, so it became a 'ladies early dinner!'"
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) provided Kate Spade gift bags for the event, filled with Pellegrino, 4Roses Bourbon, and other great things that added to the celebratory vibe. But funny enough, Tom shares that the topic of the Emmy Awards didn't come up at all during the gathering!
"We don't talk about the Emmys at all. We talk about kids, and life, and all kinds of stuff," she shares. "It's really nice."
Some of the invitees shared behind-the-scenes photos from the gathering, including Genie Francis, who tweeted, ".@BBheathertom created the most wonderful event for us! So thoughtfully done. Camaraderie was delightful!"
.@BBheathertom created the most wonderful event for us! So thoughtfully done. Camaraderie was delightful! 🥰 @finolahughes @NancyLeeGrahn @MClaireEgan #JacquelineMacInnesWood pic.twitter.com/W403fXsOQG
— Genie Francis (@GenieFrancis) June 18, 2021
Grahn shared a photo on Instagram with the caption, "Just 3 Emmy nominees out on the town."
To view more behind-the-scenes photos from this year's Leading Ladies Lunch, click here.
What do you think about the way this year's Leading Ladies Lunch was celebrated? Which of this year's Lead Actress nominees do you think will take home the Emmy award? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
