In daytime, talent runs deep. Just look at the nominees for this year's Lead Actor prize. Every single nominee had been nominated previously, and three of the five nominees have Emmys sitting on their mantels (or wherever Emmy winners store their hardware).
That led presenters Mishael Morgan (Amanda Sinclair, The Young and the Restless) and Cynthia Watros (Nina Reeves, General Hospital) to muse that the category should be renamed "the award for consistent greatness." And while the proposed new name doesn't quite flow off the tongue, it is a much shorter name than the category's new official name: Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
On his sixth nomination, Thorsten Kaye was named Outstanding Lead Actor. Kaye had previously been nominated in the lead category for his work on All My Children and Port Charles. He had also been nominated for his work on B&B in 2020. Still, Kaye told Soap Central that he'd always believed that some of his best work came during his time on One Life to Live. "I think my best shot [at winning] was probably One Life to Live, and I didn't nominate for the two years I was on there."
Kaye mused that he might have been cursed after stealing a pair of shoes from his OLTL wardrobe. "When I was on One Life to Live, which is about 370 years ago, I stole a pair of shoes that Patrick wore for his wedding to Marty," Kaye said with a laugh. "And I still wear those shoes every time I go out to any kind of celebration. I don't know that they have brought me so much luck other than marrying Marty, my wife Susan (Haskell). I've never won anything. That kind of sucks, too."
Unfortunately, Kaye was unable to be present to accept the award -- and it's unclear if he was wearing those shoes at the time that his name was announced as the winner.
B&B's head writer and executive producer Bradley Bell accepted the award on Kaye's behalf. "Selfishly, while I have the mic, to write for this man is such a joy. He is a complete original and a great guy."
Thorsten Kaye's Emmy reel consisted of scenes that involved the fallout of the CPS call drama. Those scenes included Steffy stopping Ridge and Taylor's wedding; Ridge learning that Thomas set up Brooke using his own son, Douglas; Ridge confronting Thomas; and Ridge realizing that Taylor knew the truth about Thomas' actions.
Kaye joins Scott Clifton and John McCook as B&B's other winners in the field. McCook, who won the award last year and was on hand to present the Lead Actress category, mused, "Thorsten would have thanked me because I help him through everything."
Wood took a moment to show her appreciation for her fellow nominees. "I had so much fun with you the other day at girls' lunch, and you're just wonderful, and I am really honored to be in your presence."
Wood thanked B&B's executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell. "You legend, you. You really are the best boss, and I'm so grateful for this ride. Thank you for allowing us to really exist in those scenes."
Wood then went on to thank the co-stars in her Emmy reel scenes.
"I share this with Kimberlin Brown (Sheila Carter). You're my spirit animal, and I absolutely adore you. Tanner Novlan (Finn Finnegan), thank you for navigating these scenes with me and making me laugh between the scenes. Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester) -- congratulations. You fuel my creativity."
While she seemed composed during her on-screen acceptance, backstage, Wood said her win was "a shock, a complete shock."
Having to find a place to display three Daytime Emmy statues might seem like a great problem to have, but not if you've got little ones in the house. "I will put this very high on the shelf with my two others... because I don't want our children to climb up there!"
Wood is one of three The Bold and the Beautiful actresses to win thrice in this category. Susan Flannery, Wood's on-screen grandmother, and Heather Tom have also each won three trophies for their work on B&B.
