It’s every soap opera actress’ dream to receive a Daytime Emmy nomination. Every year the women of daytime put on a remarkable performance, hoping to receive a Supporting or Lead Actress nod. The 2024 nominations will be announced on Friday, April 19, according to Soap Central. There’s bound to be some surprise nominees, but these five actresses should be recognized for their work.
5. Annika Noelle Should Receive a Supporting Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination
Annika Noelle’s The Bold and the Beautiful character Hope Logan has a reputation of being boring. But in 2023, Hope transformed from a meek good girl to a rebellious woman. Hope shocked her family when she left her philandering husband Liam Spencer for Thomas Forrester.
Noelle gave a riveting portrayal of a woman struggling with her attraction to a bad boy. Despite her family’s attempts to control her life, Hope finally stood up for herself and followed her heart. The Hope and Thomas romance storyline did wonders for Noelle, who should earn her second Daytime Emmy nomination for Supporting Actress.
4. Colleen Zenk Is a Shoo-in for a Guest Performer Nod
Colleen Zenk is famous for her award-nominated role as Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns. After the soap opera’s cancellation in 2010, she took a break from daytime TV. But in November 2023, she debuted as Jordan Howard on The Young and the Restless.
Fans were ecstatic to see Zenk back on television and the actress hasn’t missed a beat. Zenk has been phenomenal as the villainous Jordan, who tortures the Newmans as payback for her sister’s death. The actress has been one of the best highlights of the CBS soap opera, and she deserves to be rewarded. Zenk is a contender to receive a Daytime Emmy nomination for Guest Performer for her recurring role.
3. General Hospital Star Cynthia Watros Deserves a Lead Actress Nod
Cynthia Watros is a Daytime Emmy winner from her days on Guiding Light. Since she began playing Nina Reeves on General Hospital, she’s proven why she’s one of daytime’s best actresses. Although her character is the town pariah, who always gets judged for her wrongdoings, Watros delivers in every scene.
2023 saw another big storyline for the character when she learned that Willow Tait was her daughter. Watros conveyed Nina’s whirlwind of emotions as she lashed out at Carly Spencer, then feared she’d lose another child. The actress was nominated for Lead Actress in 2022, and 2024 should bring another Emmy nod.
2. Hayley Erin’s Performance as Claire Should Net Her a Daytime Emmy Nomination
Four years after leaving her Daytime Emmy-winning role as Kiki Jerome on General Hospital, Hayley Erin returned to the soap opera world. Erin joined The Young in the Restless in 2023 as Claire Grace. The actress and her character have become an integral part of the CBS soap opera.
The writers dropped a huge bombshell by revealing Claire is Victoria Newman and Cole Howard’s daughter Eve. Adapting to her new life away from Aunt Jordan has become a front-burner storyline. Erin’s performance as a young woman torn between her newfound family and the aunt who raised her was a tearjerker. Erin’s return to daytime is going smoothly and should be capped off with a Daytime Emmy nomination.
1. Melody Thomas Scott Will Get Another Daytime Emmy Nomination
The Young and the Restless star Melody Thomas Scott is one of the divas of soap operas. Since 1979, she’s played the iconic Nikki Newman. While most veteran actress are pushed to the back-burner, Scott was front and center in 2023.
Nikki found herself in danger after being kidnapped by Jordan and Claire. The normally glammed up Newman matriarch was looking weary while locked up. Although Nikki was rescued, her troubles were far from over as she struggled with her sobriety. Scott did an astounding job of showcasing Nikki trying to remain strong, but losing the battle to her enemies. She gave some of the best performances in this storyline and should be recognized with a Lead Actress nomination.
